Exclusive negotiation period between Commanders, DC ends after Council misses deadline

The D C Council missed the deadline to take up a vote on the proposed redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site putting the future of the billion project in jeopardy Both Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders were hoping for the deal to be approved by Tuesday The deadline marked the end of an exclusivity window with the Commanders who are seeking to return to D C The deal would let the NFL franchise build a new stadium band offices and parking garages at the old RFK Stadium site While the council gave preliminary approval to the fiscal year budget Monday including billion set aside for the football stadium it left out language that would have made the term sheet legally binding A separate bill formalizing the deal is scheduled for population hearings later this month Council chair Phil Mendelson reported over the weekend that he had held a number of meetings with association representatives and described those meetings as very productive pleasant and constructive We re working well together The council is trying to move toward a positive vote on the stadium declared Mendelson who called the budget proposal a fair compromise Mendelson is among those critical of the overspending allocated in the budget Council members explained they need more time to review the deal and the spending commitment it would entail The council commented it recognizes the once-in-a-generation opportunity the District has to redevelop the RFK campus and bring the Commanders back to their rightful home in the District However the committee also recognizes that the Council requirements more time to consider the proposed deal which would commit the District to spending well above billion over the coming decade Council members stated in the past they are critical of the quick timeline to pass the deal Mendelson has made it clear the council does not plan to reconvene during August recess meaning a final vote may not happen until September With society hearings set for July and leaders from both D C and Maryland are weighing in Maryland Gov Wes Moore commented on the ongoing deal not acknowledging if his state is out of the running but saying he s focused on using the designated space in his state for another future project I am not involved in what s happening between the Commanders and Washington D C Moore reported My commitment is to making sure this area is going to be better than what it is right now D C Mayor Muriel Bowser posted a comment on Facebook saying in part I am optimistic that we can work together to pass a final budget that lives up to our D C values grows our business activity and does both without adding any additional burdens on taxpayers and business In a news conference Monday she stressed her commitment to bringing business and industry to the District and added that without the terms of the deal there is no deal Bowser noted there has been no talk of an extension to the deadline WTOP has reached out to the Washington Commanders for comment Source