Josh Harris grew up on the then Redskins while going to games at RFK Stadium, and one of his top three objectives to start his tenure as owner of the Commanders is to make FedEx Field that kind of experience for fans.
“You win by investing, by creating a fan experience where people want to come out and support the team…and by creating an amazing culture, which is about respect, diversity, and inclusivity,” Harris said at his introductory press conference on Friday. “We’re going to bring all of that to this situation.
“We’re gonna throw a party every other Sunday. You don’t have couches that are broken, or TVs that aren’t working.”
Asked multiple times about his vision for a new stadium, or a potential rebrand of the Commanders name, Harris deflected to those three objectives, which are football operations, fan engagement, and connecting with the community.
To accomplish the fan engagement and community connection aspect, Harris says his group will be hard at work making FedEx Field an attraction.
“We got a lot to do. We gotta get the team ready to win football games. We gotta get out in the community and start to pay it forward, and we gotta change the stadium and the fan experience…that’s what we’re focused on right now,” Harris said. “We’re gonna make a dent in it as fast as we can, but it’s gonna take a while. We now think of the stadium as our house, and we want it to be good for those who visit.”
So, any changes like a new stadium, or maybe even a new name, will likely happen much further down the road, though Harris did hint that he could take the pulse of the fanbase for decisions like the team name.
“It's not about I feel, it's about how the city feels about all this stuff,” Harris said about the Commanders name. “We're going to look at everything and see where we are.
“I know everyone is impatient, and we’re impatient. Believe me, I’m sweating this out more than anyone, but it’s gonna take time.”
One thing Harris does know for sure: the work starts now, and more than a stadium and a team name, the fans want to see a winner.
“As we’ve learned with the Sixers, we gotta deliver,” Harris said. “There’s a lot of sleepless nights. This is an amazing day for me, but I’m stressed.
“To the Commanders fans, our promise to you is straightforward. We will work tirelessly to make you proud once again of this franchise.”
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