Commanders Return to RFK: A Logical (Yet Sentimental) Homecoming

Fascinating: A History of Pigskin and Concrete

As a Vulcan I am generally unmoved by displays of sentimentality. However the announced return of the Washington Commanders to the site of the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium presents a situation that even I find…intricate. The Commanders after a terrestrial exile of approximately 27 years in Landover Maryland are to reinvest themselves into the very heart of Washington D.C. The cycle completes itself much like the Kobayashi Maru scenario only in this instance it seems the odds are…potentially less stacked.

Investment: A Matter of Credits… I Mean Dollars

The financial aspects are of course of paramount importance. A sum of $2.7 billion (Earth currency) is to be allocated by the Commanders with a supplementary $500 million contributed by the city. I find this rather curious as such a large sum would be enough to resolve numerous issues facing the Alpha Quadrant yet it is designated for the construction of a field for…athletic competition. It seems illogical and yet…entertaining. "Live long and prosper," as they say. Or in this case "Pass long and score." I believe that is how the saying goes.

Redevelopment: More Than Just a Stadium

The planned redevelopment project is...extensive. The stadium with a seating capacity of 65,000 (a number that seems excessive even to me) is but a single component. The inclusion of housing retail parkland and restaurants suggests a desire to create a…community. It is dare I say almost…human. One wonders if this is an attempt to counteract the team's previous performance as they try to create an idyllic society.

Infrastructure: The Invisible Hand (and Concrete)

The allocation of ‘hundreds of millions’ for infrastructure improvements—parking transportation utilities—is logical but somewhat belated. The oversight of Events DC is intended to ensure a smooth transition preventing the kind of…chaos that often accompanies such projects. One can only hope they achieve maximum efficiency lest we find ourselves in a situation akin to dealing with Tribbles: a logistical nightmare.

Legacy: A Field of Dreams… and Missed Opportunities

Commanders managing partner Josh Harris speaks of honoring the “legendary place” of RFK Stadium. This invokes the human capacity for nostalgia a trait I often find…perplexing. He states "Now we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by building a new world class stadium." Perhaps this time they will utilize technology more advanced than the average Earth toaster. It seems the only logical next step.

Economics: The Root of All... Expansion?

The projected economic impact—2,000 permanent jobs $4 billion in tax revenue $15.6 billion in direct spending over 30 years—presents a compelling…hypothesis. Mayor Muriel Bowser claims “We said that we could do it all.” This of course remains to be seen. However if successful it could be a…triumph of human ingenuity. Or at least a moderately successful business venture. Either way it would be... interesting. The team is reportedly worth $6.25 billion. One must wonder can they make it so?