Redskins: ISO Home Sweet Home

Could the Redskins Be Returning to the District?

Most Redskins fans probably haven’t enjoyed their trip to FedEx Field lately. Between the signature traffic and the Skins' three straight home losses, the home of the Hogs has left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans. But one D.C. Council member has another reason to bust on FedEx Field.

It’s not in Washington.

Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans says the home of the Redskins for the past 13 years is quickly aging and will need a replacement in the near future. And he's already angling to bring the Skins back to their old home in the District, RFK Stadium. Evans' plan is to tear down RFK and build a new 110,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium with a retractable roof.

"FedEx Field is fast becoming the worst stadium in professional football," Evans said of the largest stadium in the NFL, during an interview with WTOP radio.

He thinks that the $2-$3 billion project could draw more than just the Redskins to the District.

"You build a 110,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, and you get the World Cup," Evans told WTOP. "And the Olympics would also be something we could compete for."

FedEx Field has never been popular among fans -- or people who live near the stadium. Its location right off I-495 makes for great access, but also causes huge backups on game days, both near the stadium and on the Beltway. And, to put it kindly, the design isn’t great. The stadium's main goal seems to be packing in as many paying customers in as possible -- more than 91,000 to be exact. And that means a less-than-ideal experience for spectators.

On top of that, the idea that FedEx Field is old is overblown. Yes, it is aging and is certainly not among the most state-of-the-art complexes out there, but even so, it's only in its 13th season. Aging complexes would be Soldier Field, which was built in 1924, or the home of the Packers, Lambeau Field, which hosted its first game in 1957. Even one of the last expansion teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars, has an older stadium than the Redskins. Everbank Stadium was built in 1995.

But the real debate can probably wait -- at least another 15 years or so. A spokesman for the Redskins told WTOP the team isn’t going anywhere until their lease is up... in 2027.


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