Commanders stadium search imperiled after Va. lawmaker ends support

Washington Commanders proprietor Dan Snyder is getting boxed in: A majority of the D.C. Council opposes a brand new soccer stadium at RFK, and a key Virginia lawmaker pulled the plug on his stadium incentive invoice.

Why it issues: Snyder is casting about for a brand new stadium that features a wraparound leisure district, however his choices are quickly diminishing amid controversies surrounding the workforce and little urge for food to spend taxpayer {dollars} on the sports activities franchise.

Driving the information: The try and carry the Commanders to Virginia died on Thursday, per Democratic Senate Majority Chief Richard Saslaw of Fairfax who led the trouble within the state legislature.

• The highly effective Virginia state senator mentioned he was ending his help of a stadium incentive invoice, the Washington Publish reported.

His reasoning: Along with investigations of alleged sexual harassment and monetary mismanagement, Saslaw instructed the Publish {that a} workforce coach this week downplaying the Jan. 6 revolt “clearly was not very useful, to place it mildly.”

What’s extra, that morning, seven of the 13 members on the D.C. Council mentioned in a letter to Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton that they need the District to achieve extra management of the huge, federally owned RFK web site — however to not construct a stadium.

• Their dream for the riverfront web site consists of new housing, parks, and retail.
• Led by Ward 6 council member Charles Allen, who represents the realm, the letter partly mentioned: “We additionally wish to clarify that we consider a future soccer stadium at this web site is incompatible with this imaginative and prescient.”

The opposite facet: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who helps a brand new stadium at RFK, on Thursday shot again on the council members.

• “Properly, how boastful are you able to be to recommend {that a} debate is over after I’m nonetheless speaking?” Bowser instructed reporters.

What they’re saying: In an announcement about Virginia, the Commanders alluded to the potential sooner or later for ongoing talks with state lawmakers. “We help the choice of stakeholders within the Home of Delegates and the State Senate to extra deeply study this concern,” the workforce mentioned.

Paige Hopkins contributed to this report.