Washington Controls RFK Stadium: What That Means for Urbanism and the NFL
Exploring the Intersection of Sports, Urban Planning, and Community Impact
In today’s issue, you’ll learn…
🏈 Can football help us find a sense of home?
🚧 Why urbanists clash with sprawling NFL stadiums
🌆 How NFL stadiums can thrive in city-centered, connected spaces?
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If you spend any time reading through
posts, you are bound to see images showcasing just how much space NFL Stadiums dedicate to parking. Parking only used when either stadium is activated.Here’s one of my favorite’s from Hayden displaying stadiums; one of which is America’s current favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s isolated, near a highway, and has no retail activation or secondary use for the stadium outside of the adjacent home of the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
To make matters worse, despite the team’s success and opportunity to capitalize on their rising interest, the team plans to renovate with this…
The franchise was willing to spend roughly $800 million only to miss the opportunity to activate this space. The stadium is just an 11-minute drive from downtown Kansas City, Missouri with only a bus coming every hour. When I see things like this, I can’t help but side with urbanists who feel that professional sports are bad for good urbanism.
However, after living in Brooklyn just a year or two after the Nets relocated from New Jersey I’d argue that professional sports has the power to activate places when done correctly.
It also has this sense of pride to connect communities of all backgrounds. I helped open the first Uniqlo, a fast fashion minimalist brand, just across the street from Barclays. I sat outside Barclays to have my lunch, it’s front plaza was a popular place to meet friends before heading down Atlantic Ave. for a night out as the subway dropped you off at its front door. It wasn’t uncommon to bump into players on the subway headed to the game with everyone wearing Black and White Nets gear. It brought an assortment of restaurants nearby as business owners wanted to partake in the foot traffic. Suddenly, I had options like Shake Shack for something to eat rather than chicken over rice from my favorite cart.
It can also bring gentrification and broken promises. I’ll defer that rant for another post but today I want to focus on the strong possibility of the Commanders returning to Washington D.C.
RFK Stadium, now back under the ownership of Washington, D.C., stands as a compelling candidate for the Commanders’ return. Unlike the sprawling, car-dominated setups of many NFL stadiums, RFK offers direct access to the Stadium-Armory Metro station, multiple bus routes, and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Its urban location ensures fans can arrive by train, bike, or foot, reducing the need for massive parking lots. Positioned near greenways and public spaces, the site provides a rare opportunity to design a stadium that integrates with the city, prioritizing community connection over car storage.
In an era when many NFL stadiums are isolated and car-dependent, a Commanders return to RFK would stand out as a model of transit-oriented development. Redeveloping the site could align with D.C.’s goals for sustainability and equitable access while revitalizing an area rich with history. With the land back under city control, this pitch for a comeback isn't just about football. It’s about reimagining how sports venues can serve their communities year-round.
Can Football Help Us Find a Sense of Home?
I remember cheering on Washington’s football team for the first time when I was 7. My grandma, Oda, would turn on the game and warm up the Sunday dinner she had prepped before we went to church. If we stopped to get a Sunday paper, I’d jump straight to the Sports section and pull it out, always being careful to “not mess up her paper” before she read it.
“Gone and pull your church clothes off now. Wash your hands. Grandma will have dinner ready in just a few minutes.”, she’d say. That was always my cue that I’d been staring at the TV too long. Once dinner was ready, we’d cheer on the burgundy and gold together. My dad would arrive just in time for us to spend time together before my mother came to pick my brother and me up from Grandma’s house. The game would be ambient to him as he simply wanted to be in our presence for a bit before we left. This every other weekend arrangement of seeing my father and grandmother every other weekend was something I looked forward to.
On my eighth birthday, I had a Space Jam birthday party. Rough turnout but all I can remember is cooping myself up in my room, sadly awaiting my dad to get off work to stop by. He arrived right before bedtime and we had a moment to hang out. Five months later, my father passed away from a heart attack. My dad wasn’t much of a sports fan from what I could remember but Grandma filled that void. Losing him practically solidified the visitation arrangement. The arrangements which included Sunday dinner at Grandma’s over Washington games would continue through high school. His empty chair would stare back at me.
I’m 35 now and my grandmother is well into her 80’s. She doesn’t watch much football nowadays but Saturday night’s victory was something that felt quite emotional. This will be the first time I get to watch my favorite sports team play for a shot at the Super Bowl appearance.
I celebrated with new “friends” in Charlotte, bonding over fight songs and memories at a Commanders bar. Every Sunday, we gather at the same spot to cheer on our team alongside the owner, who is also a loyal fan. While I have many close connections in Charlotte, it’s refreshing to have a second place to call home while rooting for our favorite team, just like Grandma’s house.
Professional sports hold a special place in communities. Many fans in the room were transplants from Northern Virginia and D.C., but most were lifelong Washington supporters who have always called North Carolina home. One woman I met drove two hours just to be part of the energy we’ve created. Moments like these remind me how sports connect us across time and place, creating a shared sense of belonging. Whether in Grandma’s living room or a bar full of strangers, the burgundy and gold will always feel like home.
Til, next time cut loose.
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