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Northwest Stadium

The stadium as FedExField in 2023
Northwest StadiumLocation in MarylandShow map of MarylandNorthwest StadiumLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United States
Former names	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (1997–1999) Redskins Stadium (1999) FedExField (1999–2024) Commanders Field (2024)
Address	1600 Ring Road
Location	Landover, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates	38°54′28″N 76°51′52″W / 38.90778°N 76.86444°W / 38.90778; -76.86444
Public transit	Washington Metro at Morgan Boulevard
Owner	Washington Commanders (Josh Harris)
Operator	Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (Non-NFL events)
Executive suites	257
Capacity	62,000 Former capacity: List 58,000 (2021) 67,617 (2015–2021) 79,000 (2012–2015) 83,000 (2011) 91,704 (2009–2010) 91,665 (2004–2008) 86,484 (2001–2003) 85,407 (2000) 80,116 (1997–1999)
Surface	Bermuda grass
Construction
Broke ground	March 13, 1996 (1996-03-13)
Opened	September 14, 1997 (1997-09-14)
Expanded	1998, 2000, 2005
Construction cost	US$251 million ($476 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	HOK Sport
Structural engineer	Bliss & Nyitray, Inc
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Clark Construction
Main contractors	Driggs Construction Co.
Tenants
Washington Commanders (NFL) 1997–present
Website
commanders.com/stadium

Northwest Stadium is an American football stadium in Landover, Maryland, located 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Washington, D.C. The stadium is the home of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). From 2004 until 2010, it had the NFL's largest seating capacity at 91,000; it currently seats 62,000. The stadium is owned and operated by the Commanders, with non-NFL events managed by team owner Josh Harris's company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). The stadium opened in 1997 as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. It was known as FedExField from 1999 until 2024, when FedEx relinquished its sponsorship. The stadium was temporarily known as Commanders Field until Northwest Federal Credit Union bought naming rights a few months later.

History

In the 1990s, Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke sought to replace RFK Stadium as the team's stadium. Cooke considered a site next to Laurel Park Racecourse along Whiskey Bottom and Brock Bridge roads, but lack of parking and public support prompted him to choose to build instead on Wilson Dairy Farm in Landover, Maryland. A special exit, Exit 16 (initially Arena Drive, later renamed Medical Center Drive), was built from Interstate 495, also known as the Capital Beltway. Cooke named the site Raljon after his sons Ralph and John, registering it with the United States Postal Service for the stadium's ZIP Code. Cooke died months before the opening of the new stadium, which his sons named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. It opened on September 14, 1997, hosting a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Daniel Snyder bought the team and stadium from Cooke's estate in May 1999, briefly renaming it Redskins Stadium before selling naming rights to FedEx for 27 years at an average of $7.6 million per year. The stadium was renamed FedExField on November 21, 1999. The Raljon dateline requirements and placename were phased out by Snyder by the start of the 1999 season. From 2002 to 2010, the Redskins led the NFL in home attendance but demand declined thereafter. In the early 2010s, 14,000 seats were removed from the upper deck. By 2015, another 4,000 seats had been removed.

In July 2023, Snyder sold the team and stadium to a group headed by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. The following year, Harris's company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) took over operating non-NFL events at the stadium.

On February 28, 2024, FedEx announced that it had opted out of its naming rights contract before its expiration in 2026. The stadium was temporarily renamed Commanders Field until a deal with Northwest Federal Credit Union was announced on August 27, 2024, to rename it Northwest Stadium. On October 27, 2024, the stadium was the site of the Madhouse in Maryland, a 52-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired from Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to wide receiver Noah Brown to defeat the Chicago Bears 18–15.

Design

The stadium has five levels: the Lower Level, the Club Level, the Upper Level, and the Lower and Upper Suite Levels. The Lower Level is named after Bobby Mitchell, a running back and executive with the team from 1962 to 2002. The Club Level is named after Joe Gibbs, the team's head coach from 1981 to 1992 and from 2004 to 2007. The Upper Level is named after former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. The stadium has 257 suites as of 2023.

Other events

College football

Northwest Stadium hosts the annual Prince George's Classic college football game, which is a game usually between two historically black universities. It has hosted several other college football games, including a 1998 game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Navy Midshipmen, a 2004 game between the USC Trojans and Virginia Tech Hokies, and the Army–Navy Game in 2011 and 2024.

Soccer

Northwest Stadium has been used for several international soccer matches. It hosted five matches at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, including the United States defeating Germany 3–2 in the quarterfinals. On March 28, 2015, Argentina defeated El Salvador at the stadium before a crowd of 53,978. The stadium has also hosted a number of club soccer exhibition matches. During the 2005 World Series of Soccer, D.C. United hosted Chelsea F.C. there; the 31,473 spectators represented D.C. United's third-highest ever home attendance. On August 9, 2009, D.C. United hosted another international friendly against Real Madrid at FedExField. On July 30, 2011, Manchester United ended its 2011 summer tour with a 2–1 win over F.C. Barcelona at FedExField in front of 81,807 fans. FedExField was used on July 29, 2014, in the International Champions Cup as Manchester United played Inter Milan. On July 26, 2017, Manchester United played F.C. Barcelona again at the FedExField as part of International Champions Cup. This time the Catalan club secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Manchester United in front of 80,162 fans, with Neymar's last goal for F.C. Barcelona being the difference. On August 4, 2018, FedExField hosted a 2018 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Juventus. Real Madrid won 3–1. On July 23, 2019, FedExField also hosted a match between Real Madrid and Arsenal. The match ended 2–2, and Real Madrid won the penalty shootout. Northwest Stadium was being considered as a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue before being rejected.

1999 FIFA Women's World Cup matches

Date	Competition	Team	Res	Team	Crowd
June 23, 1999	Group C	Norway	7–1	Canada	16,448
June 23, 1999	Group D	Australia	1–3	Sweden	16,448
June 27, 1999	Group A	Nigeria	2–0	Denmark	22,109
June 27, 1999	Group B	Germany	3–3	Brazil	22,109
July 1, 1999	Quarterfinals	United States	3–2	Germany	54,642
July 1, 1999	Quarterfinals	Brazil	4–3 (a.e.t/g.g)	Nigeria	54,642

Rugby union

On October 23, 2021, the stadium hosted a rugby union match between New Zealand and the USA Eagles that drew 39,720 people. The Eagles lost, 104–14.

Concerts

The stadium has hosted several major concerts, including the HFStival and George Strait Country Music Festival in 2000, the Rolling Stones with the Strokes in 2002 and with Ghost Hounds in 2019, Metallica with Deftones, Linkin Park, and Limp Bizkit in 2003, Bruce Springsteen in 2003, Kenny Chesney in 2005, 2011, 2012, and 2013. U2 with Muse, and Paul McCartney with Thievery Corporation in 2009.

In 2017, U2 returned to the stadium with The Lumineers. Guns N' Roses and Alice in Chains played at the stadium in 2016, Coldplay played in 2017 and 2022, Taylor Swift performed two nights in 2018 as part of her Reputation Stadium Tour with Camila Cabello and Charli XCX. Beyoncé and Jay Z performed two nights as part of the On the Run II Tour with Chloe x Halle and DJ Khaled. Childish Gambino and Lil Wayne performed in 2019 as part of the Broccoli City Festival. The Weeknd performed at the stadium in 2022 as part of the After Hours til Dawn Stadium Tour. In 2023, Ed Sheeran performed at the stadium as part of his Mathematics Tour while Beyoncé performed two events as part of her Renaissance World Tour.

Criticisms

The stadium is regarded as one of the worst in the NFL. In January 2007, The Washington Post reported that former team owner Daniel Snyder met with Washington, D.C., officials and former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe about building a new stadium. In 2005, eight years after the stadium opened, 1,488 premium "dream seats" in three rows were added in front of what was the first row when the stadium was built. The stadium is about a mile away from the Morgan Boulevard station, the nearest Washington Metro station to the stadium. Furthermore, federal regulations prohibit publicly paid shuttle service from public transit agencies when a private service is available.

In 2021, three water leaks occurred near two fans. In 2022, as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was walking down the away team tunnel, a barrier separating seated fans from the away team tunnel gave way and caused several people to fall near him. According to several witnesses, team staff did not show care for or call for medical attention for the fans who fell, but yelled "get the F off the field". The team released a statement responding to the criticisms, claiming the team did provide medical evaluations on site, but one fan denied that they did. Hurts was the only one who asked if they were okay. Hurts later wrote an open letter about the incident to the NFL, asking that action be taken to prevent an incident like this from recurring.

References

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External links

• Official website

• Maryland
• United States
• American football

• 1997 establishments in Maryland
• 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup stadiums
• American football venues in Maryland
• Buildings and structures in Prince George's County, Maryland
• Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
• Music venues in Maryland
• National Football League venues
• Soccer venues in Maryland
• Sports venues completed in 1997
• Sports venues in the Washington metropolitan area
• Tourist attractions in Prince George's County, Maryland
• Washington Commanders stadiums
• Washington Football Team stadiums
• Washington Redskins stadiums
• FedEx