Commanders Stadium Deal: Private Equity, Public Robbery
After years of disappointment, the Washington Commanders finally had a decent season — and Mayor Bowser wasted no time in rewarding them. Today, she rolled out the red carpet for billionaire private equity baron Josh Harris, offering a jaw-dropping $1 billion-plus taxpayer giveaway to move the team back to RFK Stadium. Never mind that the city is already staring down a massive budget shortfall thanks to Congressional gridlock. And never mind that just last year, DC handed half a billion dollars to Monumental Sports for Capital One Arena.
This is a bad rerun we didn’t ask for.
The 180-acre RFK site has been crumbling for years — a mess of broken promises and missed opportunities. Now, out of nowhere, taxpayers are expected to pony up more than a billion dollars to build a glass-domed monument to excess, even as DC barrels toward $1.7 billion in debt by 2030. Josh Harris and his army of lobbyist and PR consultants promise this will be an "opportunity" for the city. SFC knows better — and we're calling BS.
Let’s talk about Harris for a second. This isn’t just any sports team owner. Harris, along with Marc Rowan, co-founded Apollo Global Management — a private equity goliath with deep, troubling ties to foreign sovereign wealth funds. Apollo’s investment partners have included Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Mubadala from the UAE — regimes with deeply disturbing human rights records. In fact, Harris just inked a multi-billion-dollar expansion with Mubadala in 2024.
DC taxpayers are already subsidizing authoritarian regimes every time they walk into Capital One Arena. And now Mayor Bowser wants them to do it again, just so Josh Harris can add another feather to his platinum cap?
Stadium Subsidies Are a Scam — And the Evidence Is Overwhelming
For decades, billionaire owners have conned cities into believing that stadiums would be economic engines for the community. They roll out promises of new jobs, new businesses, and thriving neighborhoods. And politicians — under the influence of well-paid lobbyists — eat it up.
But here’s the reality: Economists overwhelmingly agree that publicly financed stadiums are terrible investments. Study after study shows that these deals don’t boost local economies. They don’t increase employment. And they almost never deliver the “renaissance” owners promise.
Meanwhile, the city's basic services are on the chopping block: public safety furloughs are looming, metro service faces brutal cuts, and schools are preparing for shortened weeks.
And why? Because Congress froze $1 billion in DC’s funds under the latest continuing resolution. Yet somehow, Mayor Bowser found over a billion dollars to help Josh Harris build his billionaire playpen.
Let’s be crystal clear: when cities subsidize stadiums, fans lose. Owners pass the costs back to them through higher ticket prices, skyrocketing concession costs, and luxury-only amenities. Meanwhile, taxpayers eat the debt, crumbling services, and broken promises. This is why SFC is standing firm — just like we did when the Wizards and Capitals tried to bolt for Alexandria. If there’s no Danifesto, there’s no deal. Full stop.
That includes:
Reasonable concession prices
Discounts for taxpayers and public servants like teachers, military, and nurses
Affordable seating for low-income fans
Free community use for youth leagues and public schools
A binding pledge to stay put for at least 20 years
Guess what? This deal offers no benefits to taxpayers.
Final Word: Tell Harris to Build His Own Stadium
This isn't an "investment" — it's a robbery. It’s a transfer of wealth from DC's working families to a Wall Street billionaire. It’s the rich getting richer while our schools, safety, and transit systems fall apart.
Mayor Bowser and the DC Council must reject this boondoggle. If Josh Harris wants a new stadium, he can build it himself. He’s got the cash, and DC taxpayers have bigger priorities.
Enough is enough.
