Commanders' president says new stadium will be 'crown jewel' of Washington, D.C.

Yahoo

20-05-2025

The Washington Commanders meant business in their recent search for a team president. Managing partner Josh Harris' search landed on Mark Clouse in December. While that name may be unfamiliar to football fans, Clouse is a giant in the business world and was considered a slam-dunk hire for Harris and the Commanders.
Before coming to Washington, Clouse most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Campbell's Company, overseeing iconic brands such as Campbell's, Goldfish, Rao's, Pepperidge Farm, and others.
Once he began, Clouse immediately jumped into the Commanders' search for a new stadium. The Commanders have agreed to a deal with Washington, D.C., to build the new stadium at the RFK Stadium site in the District. While it seems like a formality, it's still not a done deal as the D.C. Council must approve the agreement.
On Monday, we finally heard from Clouse publicly for the first time since arriving in Washington at the Economic Club luncheon. Clouse conveyed that the Commanders have big plans for the new stadium that go beyond football.
'Much more than just simply building a stadium,' Clouse said via Mark Segraves of NBC 4 in Washington, D.C. 'This is an opportunity to take 180 acres that should be the crown jewel of the District and turn it into both an economic and community engine that is going to be absolutely part of the roadmap for the future, and living into that, but in a contemporary, relevant way that feels like you are at the absolutely premiere facility in all of sports."
Both sides want more than a football stadium. D.C. understands that building a new stadium would only be the start, as they could host events year-round, including concerts, other sporting events, and so much more. This would help create jobs in the District, and the new stadium would also bring shopping and housing options. For their part, the Commanders are willing to pay for over half of what the project will cost, leaving less burden for D.C. taxpayers.
And yes, the new stadium will have a roof.
'There is a roof on the stadium, and I think that's gonna enable us to bring, you know, 30-to-40 world-class events,' Clouse said. 'I mean, we will be the only roofed facility of this size in the Mid-Atlantic, and so, you know, whether that's Taylor Swift or the Final Four or — any WWE wrestling fans out there? — WrestleMania could come, but we are going to be able to host everything that's in the city on a national stage. And because of that roof, it gives us a chance to actually create a pipeline of jobs and development.'
This is a deal everyone involved wants. Multiple members of the D.C. Council have gone on record saying they will vote in favor of the stadium. However, other members have said they are against the new stadium.
Clouse, unlike Washington's previous team presidents, appears to be able to get things done.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' president says new stadium will be 'crown jewel' of D.C.