President Donald Trump has expressed a desire for the proposed stadium for The Washington Commanders, an NFL franchise situated in the nation's capital, to bear his name.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump reportedly wants his name on the Washington Commanders' new $3.7 billion stadium.
- White House sources suggest back-channel communications about the naming request.
- The D.C. Council, not just the Commanders, would likely decide on naming the stadium after an individual.
- Trump reportedly has leverage to influence the stadium naming decision.
A senior White House source told ESPN there has been back-channel communication between the administration and a member of the team’s ownership about his wish.
“It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” the source added.
Construction of the new $3.7 billion stadium, approved in September and slated for a 2030 debut, will take place at the former RFK Stadium location by The Anacostia River, the team's former home from 1961 to 1996.
“That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ESPN via email on Friday night.
The White House and a Commanders spokesperson did not immediately respond to Coins2Day’s request for comment.
An insider connected to the unmanned team informed ESPN that no official discussions have occurred with Trump concerning his request. However, these talks might take place shortly, as the president plans is expected to attend the Commanders' home game versus the Detroit Lions this Sunday.
The Commanders' ownership group is headed by Billionaire Josh Harris, who is anticipated to have Trump as his guest for the game, as reported by ESPN. Trump is also expected to be involved in halftime events that will recognize military veterans.
According to a source with direct insight into the matter, the team might not have the final say on whether Trump's name adorns the new stadium, as reported by ESPN.
The Commanders own the new stadium’s naming rights, presumably to sell to a corporate sponsor. But the District of Columbia Council, which approved the project, would likely decide whether to commemorate an individual in the name of the stadium.
The D.C. Council is set to lease the stadium to both the Commanders and the National Park Service, the entity overseeing the 180-acre federal land where the 65,000-seat stadium is slated for construction.
“The team doesn’t have the authority. They can’t name the stadium … on their own,” the unnamed source told ESPN. “The city would be involved in that decision, and the Park Service would be involved.”
While the majority of NFL franchises have secured lucrative corporate sponsorships for their stadium naming rights, reportedly worth hundreds of millions, an anonymous source familiar with Donald Trump's preferences informed ESPN that he has no intention of purchasing the name himself or allowing a company to do so on his behalf.
“He has cards to play. He can make it very difficult, through government environmental approvals and other things, to make sure everyone who wants this stadium to be built will join to put his name on it,” the source with knowledge of the stadium deal told ESPN. “Trump has plenty of cards to play to get his way.”
The D.C. Council and the National Park Service didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Previously, Trump had made requests of the team. In April, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Harris announced announced that the Commanders' new stadium would be constructed in Washington.
But in July, Trump threatened to block the construction if Harris did not change the team name from Commanders back to the Redskins, which had drawn criticism from Native American groups for being offensive.
In 2020, the Washington franchise updated its logo and name, adopting the moniker Washington Football Team for a two-year period. The Commanders have retained their present name since the 2022 season and have indicated their intention to keep it, notwithstanding demands from Trump.