Northwest Stadium
| Company type | Sports venue |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports and entertainment |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Landover , United States |
| Owner | Washington Commanders organization |
| Parent | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (non-NFL events management) |
Northwest Stadium is an American football venue situated in Landover, Maryland, just east of Washington, D.C.. It functions as the home field for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Owned and managed by the Commanders organization, the stadium currently accommodates 62,000 spectators, a reduction from its maximum capacity of 91,000 during the period from 2004 to 2010. Events unrelated to the NFL are overseen by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE).
Originally inaugurated in 1997 under the name Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, it carried the title FedExField from 1999 until 2024, when FedEx concluded its sponsorship agreement. The facility was briefly known as Commanders Field before Northwest Federal Credit Union secured the naming rights. In 2025, the Commanders revealed intentions to construct New Commanders Stadium as a future home.
History
In the early 1990s, Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Washington Redskins, sought to replace RFK Stadium and selected Wilson Dairy Farm in Landover, Maryland for its favorable parking and community support compared to other options. A dedicated exit, Exit 16 (later renamed Medical Center Drive), was developed off Interstate 495. Cooke coined the name Raljon for the location, combining his sons' names, and registered it with the United States Postal Service to establish a unique ZIP Code for the stadium. Cooke passed away just months before the stadium's opening on September 14, 1997; his sons chose to name it Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in his honor.
Following his acquisition of the team and stadium in May 1999, Daniel Snyder temporarily renamed the venue Redskins Stadium before selling its naming rights to FedEx under a 27-year deal valued at approximately $7.6 million per year. The stadium adopted the FedExField name on November 21, 1999. Snyder phased out the Raljon designation by the start of the 1999 season. Between 2002 and 2010, the Redskins led all NFL franchises in home game attendance; however, attendance waned thereafter. To address this decline, roughly 14,000 seats were removed from the upper deck during the early 2010s, followed by an additional reduction of about 4,000 seats by 2015, setting capacity at approximately 62,000 by 2022.
In July 2023, Snyder sold both the team and stadium to a consortium led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. The subsequent year, Harris's firm, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), assumed responsibility for managing non-NFL events at the facility. In February 2024, FedEx terminated its naming rights agreement two years ahead of schedule. The stadium was temporarily dubbed Commanders Field until a sponsorship arrangement with Northwest Federal Credit Union resulted in its renaming to Northwest Stadium on August 27, 2024.
Successor
In April 2025, the Commanders along with D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans to develop a new stadium on the site of RFK Stadium with an anticipated opening by 2030. Subject to approval from the D.C. Council, the team will relocate from Northwest Stadium once construction is complete.
Design
The stadium comprises five tiers: Lower Level, Club Level, Upper Level, plus Lower and Upper Suite Levels. The Lower Level pays tribute to Bobby Mitchell, a significant player and executive from 1962 through 2002. The Club Level honors former head coach Joe Gibbs, while recognition on the Upper Level is given to former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. As of 2023, there are a total of 257 suites within the stadium.
College football
The annual Prince George's Classic, primarily showcasing historically black colleges and universities, takes place at Northwest Stadium. The venue has also been the site for significant collegiate matchups, including the 1998 Notre Dame versus Navy game, the 2004 USC against Virginia Tech contest, and the Army–Navy Games held in 2011 and 2024.
Soccer
Numerous international soccer fixtures have been held at the stadium, notably six matches during the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. A standout moment was the United States' 3–2 quarterfinal victory over Germany. On March 28, 2015, Argentina triumphed over El Salvador in front of an audience of 53,978.
The stadium has also served as a stage for prominent club exhibition games. During the 2005 World Series of Soccer, D.C. United hosted Chelsea F.C., attracting 31,473 attendees—marking D.C. United’s third-largest home crowd. Other remarkable matches include D.C. United versus Real Madrid in 2009; Manchester United’s 2–1 win against F.C. Barcelona in 2011 before a crowd of 81,807; Manchester United facing Inter Milan in the 2014 International Champions Cup; and the 2017 International Champions Cup where F.C. Barcelona defeated Manchester United 1–0 with an attendance of 80,162. Real Madrid also secured victories over Juventus in the 2018 International Champions Cup and Arsenal on penalties in 2019. However, the stadium's proposal to host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was declined by FIFA in 2021.
| Date | Competition | Team | Res | Team | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 23, 1999 | Group C | Template:Fbw | 7–1 | Template:Fbw | 16,448 |
| Group D | Template:Fbw | 1–3 | Template:Fbw | 16,448 | |
| June 27, 1999 | Group A | Template:Fbw | 2–0 | Template:Fbw | 22,109 |
| Group B | Template:Fbw | 3–3 | Template:Fbw | 22,109 | |
| July 1, 1999 | Quarterfinals | Template:Fbw | 3–2 | Template:Fbw | 54,642 |
| Quarterfinals | Template:Fbw | 4–3 (a.e.t/g.g) | Template:Fbw | 54,642 |
Rugby union
A rugby union encounter between New Zealand and the USA Eagles took place at the stadium on October 23, 2021, drawing a crowd of 39,720.
Concerts
This venue has established itself as a key location for major concerts and musical events.
| Grand National Tour | Kendrick Lamar and SZA | Mustard | | Cowboy Carter Tour | Beyoncé | N/A | | After Hours til Dawn Tour | The Weeknd | Playboi Carti , Mike Dean |
Criticisms
FedEx Field is often cited as one of the least favored stadiums within the NFL. Discussions about constructing a new venue were initiated by former owner Daniel Snyder as far back as 2007. To boost revenue, 1,488 premium "dream seats" were installed in 2005 ahead of the original first row. The stadium sits roughly from Morgan Boulevard, the closest Washington Metro station, yet federal rules prohibit publicly funded shuttle services when private transportation alternatives are available.
In 2021, three incidents involving water leaks near spectators raised concerns about safety standards. The following year, a barrier collapsed close to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts while he was exiting through the away team tunnel, resulting in several fans falling. Observers noted a lack of adequate medical attention from team personnel, although the organization stated that assessments were conducted. Subsequently, Hurts addressed the NFL through an open letter, calling for measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1997 establishments in Maryland
- American football venues in Maryland
- Buildings and structures in Prince George's County, Maryland
- Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
- Music venues in Maryland
- NFL 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