Hundreds of skeptics and supporters addressed the D.C. Council in a marathon hearing on Tuesday by making their final pitches as legislators prepare to vote on a new RFK Stadium for the Washington Commanders on Friday.

Advocates, who outnumbered the opposition, described the $3.7 billion stadium and surrounding economic district as a massive win for the city. 

The project’s use of $1.1 billion in public funds — earmarked for supporting infrastructure and parking garages — was characterized as a relatively small price to pay to revitalize a 190-acre campus that has sat vacant for years.

The day began with dueling rallies outside the Wilson Building, which hosted the hours-long meeting. Supporters with burgundy and gold signs echoed the team’s sentiment: “Now or never!”

Commanders officials have urged city legislators not to delay as they consider the stadium deal, warning that any issues at this point could postpone the arena’s planned 2030 opening. 

The franchise also has the option to negotiate with Maryland or Virginia for a potential new home — the city’s exclusive negotiating window expired on July 15.

Supporters said they are worried that failing to approve a new stadium would allow the old rusted stadium to decay as the site remains unused. Mayor Muriel Bowser has regularly called the current RFK Stadium “a blight.”

“The RFK deal isn’t just a stadium — it’s jobs, housing, park space, a SportsPlex, and a new waterfront community,” Ms. Bowser wrote on X this week. “180 acres of vacant land, activated. This week, we have the chance to make DC history together. We can’t let this window of opportunity close.”

Ms. Bowser’s agreement with the team would bring a glitzy new NFL stadium for the Commanders alongside a retail district, thousands of housing units and a new center for community sports.

Stadium opponents brought the same passion to the Wilson Building’s steps. They vowed to continue fighting for “a better deal,” one that featured more input from District residents, fewer funds from the city and a greater commitment to community improvements.

“The opportunity cost to D.C. and real estate giveaway far outweigh the benefits to the people of D.C. as the deal stands now,” said Katharine Landfield of the Fair Budget Coalition.

The stadium deal changed last week when D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announced a new agreement with the team. His revisions will force the Commanders to pay taxes on parking, merchandise and food sales — they were previously exempt — while mandating $50 million for a community benefits fund.

For many stadium skeptics, it wasn’t enough.

“While Chairman Mendelson improved upon the deal cut by the mayor, it is only marginally better at this point,” Ms. Landfield said. “The deal must return more revenue to D.C. and directly benefit residents living near the stadium.”

The adjusted tax agreement only allows the city to receive parking revenue on days the stadium does not host events. Commanders officials plan to host 200 yearly activations at the site, ranging from NFL games to professional women’s soccer matches to concerts and private events.

With the stadium a presumed lock to come to their neighborhood, residents of Kingman Park have set their sights on a more manageable goal: the planned above-ground parking garages.

“The D.C. Council’s own budget office agrees that these garages are a drain on D.C. investment,” Meredith Holmgren, a Kingman Park resident, said. “Their report shows that dedicating large amounts of land to parking is extremely unproductive when compared to other uses like housing or mixed-use development.”

“We are fighting so that Kingman Park does not become ‘Kingman Parking Lot,’” Ebony Payne, the advisory neighborhood commissioner for the neighborhood, said. “The proposal would direct over 5,000 cars into our neighborhood. It would destroy our quality of life.”

Ms. Payne also highlighted the lack of rent paid by the Commanders. She estimated that — based on fees associated with Audi Field and Nationals Park — the stadium rent would be worth about $7 million more than the $1 annual fee the team has agreed to pay.

The coalition of Kingman Park homeowners has at least one ally voting on the legislation. Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen has urged his colleagues to reconsider the parking plan. He has suggested diverting funds to building a new Metro station, which could transport more than 20,000 people into the area per hour.

“8,000 [parking spots] is a number that boggles the mind and makes no sense when I don’t see the investment in Metro,” Mr. Allen said.

Despite the often contentious stadium negotiations, the legislation is widely expected to pass through the D.C. Council on Friday. Legislators have already agreed to set aside approximately $1 billion for the project, which could break ground next year and open in 2030.

Dozens of Ward 7 residents said the stadium would be a beacon of hope for a historically neglected area.

“This project tells a different story,” resident Bernadette James told the D.C. Council. “These are the kinds of investments that can break cycles of poverty and put families like mine on a path to economic stability beyond job creation.”

The math was even simpler for many Commanders fans who were reenergized by the franchise’s first playoff run in 20 years last season. They want their team back.

“We started the fun in the parking lot before we even got into the game,” said Cherita Whiting, a lifelong Washingtonian who said she attended games at RFK Stadium as a child, continuing the tradition when she had kids of her own.

“Families together, people meeting and walking in together,” she said. “I think we all need some togetherness. … I really would like to see my team back here.”

For 25 years, the team has toiled in mediocrity at the wildly unpopular Northwest Stadium — formerly known as FedEx Field.

Criticisms of the team’s current home are endless and grow by the year. It’s a pain to get to; the uncomfortable seats in the bowl quickly became outdated; it lacks any character or charm. 

Embarrassing issues plagued the site, including a burst pipe that leaked onto fans in 2021 and a collapsing railing the following year.

The current site is also about a mile away from the nearest Metro station.

“It is a hassle to get out there, especially if you’re here in Northern Virginia,” Commanders fan Evan Diaz said at the team’s training camp in Ashburn on Tuesday morning. “It would be great if we could actually play in the city we’re representing.”

The D.C. Council will reconvene Wednesday for another public hearing, this time with team officials. After legislators question Commanders executives, they will hold an initial vote on Friday. If the proposal passes, it will face a 30-day congressional review based on the city’s Home Rule Act.

A final vote would likely follow in September.

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.