Commanders Campaign DC City Council Amid Protests

Commanders Campaign DC City Council Amid Protests originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Washington Commanders' braintrust convened a conclave with the D.C. City Council at an upscale restaurant in Georgetown Monday night, witnessed by a small group of protestors.

Cafe Milano, which was once featured on HBO's political comedy series VEEP, saw the Commanders host "more than a half a dozen" members of the D.C. Council in an attempt to save the sinking stadium deal in the district. The team is seeking approval for a $1.1 billion deal it struck with Mayor Muriel Bowser, but has faced opposition from the council so far.

The Commanders hope to open the new stadium by 2030, hoping to host matches during the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. The team has signaled that any delays would jeopardize its ability to stay in the district. Potential sites are waiting in the wings in Maryland and Virginia. Maryland has hosted the franchise since 1997, while Virginia was recently spurned in a bid to lure the NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards across the river.

Dinner Summit?

The Commanders are hosting DC Council members at swank Cafe Milano in G'town tonight in continued push for RFK Stadium approval. Move comes hours before Chair Mendelson introduces bill allowing Council to push debate into August recess, frustrating team & Mayor. pic.twitter.com/6fbqOTZmSO— Eric Flack (@EricFlackTV) June 30, 2025

Despite the looming threats to a DC return, not everyone in the city is happy with the potential deal. According to the report from WUSA 9, Monday night's dinner took place in the shadow of anti-stadium protestors who staked out the swanky spot, urging the team to pay for the stadium themselves.

DC Councilmember Wendell Felder has stated that his office has launched a series of town halls in the area. Meanwhile, DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, who was present at the event, said that they are "working as quickly as possible" with the Commanders while also minimizing the team's timeline.

The current deal the team has struck with Bowser is supposed to be approved by July 15. Given the current speed at which the project is progressing, that seems likely to be pushed back, further jeopardizing the deal.

Related: Commanders $3.7 Billion Stadium Plan Hits Controversial Obstacle

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.