by Larry Janezich
Posted, May 14, 2025
CM At-Large Kenyan McDuffie at Mr. Henry’s last night.
CM Kenyan McDuffie on His Support for a New Stadium at RFK
by Larry Janezich
Posted, May 14, 2025
Last night, CM At-Large Kenyan McDuffie appeared before a group of Ward Six Democrats upstairs at Mr. Henry’s on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
In remarks, McDuffie expressed frustration on how long it’s taking to produce a budget owing to Congressional inaction to authorize DC to spend its own funds for the current FY. He also expressed concern over the expected loss of $1 billion in city revenue over the next three FYs because of reductions in the federal workforce.
Afterward, he made himself available for informal discussions with attendees.
An audience member questioned McDuffie’s support for Mayor’s proposal to build a new NFL stadium to replace RFK, asking him if he is aware of any empirical evidence that a new stadium would provide new revenue or economic benefit for the city in light of economists’ assessment that there is none. (Mayor Bowser wants the city council to approve spending $850 million in public funds for infrastructure to support a new stadium with the Washington Commanders covering the cost of building the stadium.)
McDuffie responded, “I guess my evidence that a stadium is good for DC would be what we see at Nats Stadium, what we see at Audi Field, what we see at Capital One Arena.”
In a follow-up, he was asked, “So, you can point to (those developments) as maybe a catalyst for supporting that sort of investment. What are you seeing at RFK that indicates that’s a similar situation?”
McDuffie replied, “What I’m seeing at RFK is 180 acres of dormant land that has been sitting idle for decades. I’m seeing a lot of asphalt that’s collecting dust and it’s in extreme disrepair. What I saw as a child growing up in the city were areas around SE and the Navy Yard and the Waterfront that needed investment. What I saw in the areas around SW was my friends who went to high school with me at Woodrow Wilson were communities that were starving for community service amenities that other parts of the city had. What we have today (in those areas) that didn’t exist before are events coming out of those facilities that are supporting a lot of businesses around it that are giving job opportunities to residents and for small businesses the opportunity to service what is happening in and those neighborhoods. “
The Ward 6 Democrats website carries a notice inviting neighbors to a Fireside Chat on the Future of RFK: Monday, June 2, at The Strand Restaurant, 131 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. The event is sponsored by: The Hill Rag and East of the River Newspapers, The Ward 6 Democrats, and The Ward 7 Democrats.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
concern about traffic & parking impacts on Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Yes Metro is right there but cars have limited access routes. Nat’s Park & soccer stadium were built in defunct industrial areas not established residential neighborhoods.
True dat David. I would add that using waterfront property is a terrible waste of a valuable finite resource, as well as creating a source of polluted runoff stormwater. Put them in distressed or less desirable places–this is for every stadium everywhere in the world.
McDuffie responded, “I guess my evidence that a stadium is good for DC would be what we see at Nats Stadium, what we see at Audi Field, what we see at Capital One Arena.”
By this answer McDuffie has no cap on how much taxpayer money he is willing to fork over.
We know that there will be at least seven council members that will vote for taxpayer funding of the stadium. The question should be how much are they willing to spend.