We got the news late Thursday, and more in Friday's Washington Post, that the House Oversight Committee is preparing legislation that may help the Commanders get a new stadium at the RFK site.
Of course, Chris Russell had some thoughts, after explaining what exactly is going on in a few words.
"The original lease ran through 2038, and the way I understand it, there would be a 99-year extension on the property – it wouldn't actually go from the federal government to DC," Russell said. "And basically, it would put DC in a position to recruit the Commanders with that particular swath of land."
But if the government still owns the land, and it's just a lease, even a 100-year one…is that the best option?
"Maryland wants to keep the team in Prince George's County, and the Commanders own the property around FedEx Field, and the government has said in the past their contribution would be to improve infrastructure," Russell said. "But if they didn't have to buy the land, like they would in Virginia, and just essentially have to pay construction costs, then that is an appealing option, even though there are a lot of appealing options in Virginia."
The "heart of the fan base, and certainly the money," seems to be in NoVa in Russell's eyes, and a move there could "make DC competitive again." Still, this RFK legislation now throws another wrinkle of feasibility to the idea of coming home…but what does that then mean for the possible improvements of Nationals Park and/or Capital One Arena, or maybe a new arena at the RFK site instead?
"How do you spread the resources around to get the Commanders to choose you, and also still support and help out Ted Leonsis and whomever owns the Nationals?" Russell asked.
And here's another question: would a new stadium in DC quell the vitriol around another rebrand?
"If you have powerful government pushing forward to ask how they can do something here, and the Commanders gave you a modern-day version of RFK Stadium…would you leave them alone about the damn name change?" Rooster asked.
Take a listen above to the entire 2 p.m. hour of Friday's show, as Rooster goes in-depth on the RFK legislation and new stadium scenarios!
Follow Chris Russell on Twitter: @Russellmania621
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