Is the Commanders’ move to Woodbridge finished?
According to a report in the Washington Post, the Virginia General Assembly has delayed voting on legislation designed around convincing the Washington Commanders to move to Prince William County. Despite the support from both parties, the legislators returned to discuss the state budget and the stadium bills would not come to the floor. However, an extension is possible since the vote to conclude the special session, which came as a result of an inability to obtain a consensus on the budget in March.
However, this does not bode well for a potential move of the longtime NFL franchise, which has seen its share of legal issues over the past few months. Owner Daniel Snyder is under fire for allegations of sexual misconduct and financial improprieties. While he denies these allegations, there are other issues at hand. Namely, the logistics of resolving Woodbridge’s long-standing traffic problem. Despite the Commanders already acquiring the rights to purchase 200 acres in Prince William County, the team is contractually obligated to stay in Landover, MD until 2027. Another issue to consider is the state’s contribution to the proposed stadium project. Back in March, the negotiators working on the bills stated they would cap the state’s contribution at $350 million. There are also concerns that the tax revenue the state would forfeit could be estimated at $1 billion.
Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who has been a vocal opponent of the stadium, tweeted the following earlier today.