Washington, D.C., officials have released the draft RFK Campus Master Plan, outlining a long-term vision to redevelop the 180-acre site with a new stadium for the Washington Commanders, thousands of housing units, parks, retail, hotels, and other mixed-use development. The release of the draft plan begins a 45-day public comment period that will run through August 14.
According to the draft master plan, the proposed redevelopment would be anchored by a new approximately 65,000-seat stadium for the Washington Commanders, which is expected to open in 2030. The stadium would occupy about 11% of the overall campus and feature a roof designed to allow for year-round events.
District officials estimate the full campus redevelopment could include approximately 5,000 to 6,500 housing units, with at least 30% designated as affordable housing. The broader vision also includes restaurants, retail, hotels, parks, recreational amenities, entertainment venues, waterfront access, and other neighborhood features.
The District says the Washington Commanders have committed to invest at least $2.7 billion toward construction of the stadium, which officials describe as the largest private investment in the city’s history. The District’s proposed contribution includes $500 million from the existing ballpark fund for site preparation and infrastructure, along with an additional $202 million for roads, utilities, and other infrastructure improvements to support future development across the campus.
City officials project the redevelopment could generate approximately 30,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs, along with an estimated $24.2 billion in total economic output and approximately $5.1 billion in tax revenue. Earlier project estimates included approximately 14,000 jobs tied directly to stadium construction, with the remainder associated with the broader campus redevelopment.
The draft master plan also outlines proposed land uses, urban design guidelines, zoning recommendations, transportation improvements, park space, and strategies for connecting the campus with surrounding neighborhoods and the Anacostia waterfront.
District officials say the redevelopment follows previous sports-anchored projects that helped transform areas such as Chinatown around the arena now known as Capital One Arena, the Capitol Riverfront following the construction of Nationals Park, and St. Elizabeths East with CareFirst Arena.
The draft master plan is now available for public review, and residents are invited to submit comments through August 14 before the plan is finalized.
