President Donald Trump has voiced support for naming the Washington Commanders’ planned $3.7 billion stadium in Washington, D.C., after himself. The new venue, set to rise on the historic RFK Stadium site, is targeted for a 2030 opening and represents a major milestone for both the franchise and the city. The naming rights, however, are still undecided.
While stadium naming is usually reserved for major corporate sponsors, this decision involves several layers of approval, including input from the D.C. Council and the National Park Service. Trump hopes the name will serve as a personal tribute to what he sees as his key role in helping move the project forward.
Donald Trump Pushes For New $3.7 Billion DC Stadium To Bear His Name
As reported by ESPN, a senior White House source confirmed there have been back-channel communications between the Trump administration and a member of the Commanders’ ownership group, led by Josh Harris, about the president’s wish to have the stadium bear his name.
“It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” the source told ESPN. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emailed the media giant, stating, “That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible.”
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The Commanders organization said there have been no formal conversations yet with Trump about the naming, although they have been preparing for his attendance at the Commanders’ home game against the Detroit Lions. Forbes reported that Trump “has plenty of cards to play” and could use governmental environmental approvals and other factors to ensure his naming wishes are fulfilled.
The decision differs from the NFL’s usual practice of selling naming rights to corporate sponsors, and it involves complex negotiations with city authorities and the National Park Service, which manages the stadium site on federal land. Meanwhile Commanders could face a loss if Trump’s demand is fulfilled.
Commanders Could Lose Up to $800 Million in NFL Revenue Over Trump’s Reported Naming Demand
The NFL and the Washington Commanders may be staring at a major financial snag after reports emerged that Donald Trump wants the team’s proposed Washington, D.C., stadium to bear his name.
Per ESPN, the Commanders’ owners intend to sell the naming rights of the new dome-shaped venue to a corporate partner, a deal expected to bring in hundreds of millions. Trump’s reported push for the stadium to be named after him could complicate or even disrupt those plans, putting both the league’s commercial revenue and the team’s long-term stadium strategy in a delicate spot.
NFL insider Albert Breer underlined the scale of the potential loss, comparing it with two of the most lucrative naming deals in professional sports. “Just for context, the naming rights deal at SoFi Stadium in LA is worth $650 million over 20 years, and the one at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is at $800 million (Canadian) over 20 years. So that’s what the @Commanders would be walking away from in not selling off the rights.”
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The new $3.7 billion stadium project stands at the heart of the NFL’s plan to reestablish its footprint in the nation’s capital. Under the current proposal, Commander’s ownership will cover $2.7 billion of the cost, while the city chips in $1 billion and assumes the stadium lease. But Trump’s push to give up the naming rights could cost the league as much as $800 million in lost sponsorship value, a massive hit in one of its most prized markets.
The Commanders previously called the RFK Stadium site home from 1961 to 1996 before shifting to Landover, Maryland. Their return was designed to jumpstart the local economy and solidify the NFL’s long-term presence in Washington, making the potential financial fallout even more significant.
Earlier this year, Trump also threatened to block the project unless the team reinstated its former “Redskins” name. With his latest demand, the situation now risks escalating into a financial and political conflict that could cost the NFL nearly a billion dollars in lost corporate revenue.
