The Washington Commanders announced on Thursday that they have selected a lead architect to oversee the revamped design of the football team’s new stadium, expected to open in 2030.
The move comes two months after the Council of the District of Columbia approved the $3.7 billion deal for the second time to redesign the abandoned RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The NFL team’s current home venue is the nearby Northwest Stadium in Maryland.
Commanders President Mark Clouse named the Texas-based HKS firm as the lead architect, calling the selection a “major step forward” in bringing the team back to the district.
“HKS has a proven track record of delivering world-class stadiums that balance design, functionality and community impact,” Clouse said in a statement.
The firm has been responsible for designing multiple NFL stadiums, including SoFi Stadium in California and AT&T Stadium in Texas.
“This partnership underscores our shared vision to create a stadium that enhances the fan experience, strengthens our connection with the community, and sets a new standard for the future of sports and entertainment—delivering an exceptional experience that will serve our team, our fans, and the District for decades to come,” Clouse added.
The Washington, D.C., government is contributing more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds and additional foregone revenue in tax breaks and other incentives for the Commanders to return to the district. The Commanders are then investing $2.7 billion to build the stadium, marking the single largest private investment in the district’s history.
HKS Global Venues Director Mark Williams said his company is “thrilled to partner with the Commanders” for the new design.
“We’re reimagining what home-field advantage means by channeling the rhythm and the roar that made RFK so special and carrying that spirit forward in a bold new way,” he said in a press release. “The site, set within the monumental fabric of Washington, D.C., is one of the most extraordinary in professional sports, and we are honored to help write the next chapter in its history.”
In recent months, President Donald Trump has gotten involved in the Commanders’ stadium deal by threatening to block the agreement unless the Commanders return to their Redskins name. The president recently suggested the new stadium should be named after him, according to an ESPN report. The White House called the idea “beautiful.”
WHITE HOUSE HAILS ‘BEAUTIFUL’ PROSPECT OF NEW COMMANDERS STADIUM BEARING TRUMP’S NAME
Thursday’s announcement is the latest step in getting the stadium closer to completion. Vertical construction is expected to start in spring 2027, three years before the stadium’s projected opening. RFK Stadium is currently undergoing demolition, according to an October update from Events DC.
Next steps include working out the concept and schematic design principles before presenting the plans to the Washington, D.C., government in a series of community engagement meetings slated for November and December.