The Washington Commanders' new stadium is still years away from opening, but DC officials already have their eyes on one of the NFL's biggest events.
The team unveiled new renderings Wednesday, offering the latest look at the 65,000-seat stadium planned for the former RFK Stadium site. The $3.8 billion stadium is expected to open in 2030.
"Looks like a great place to host the Super Bowl," Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a post on X Wednesday.
But is that realistic? Here's what to know.
Will the Washington Commanders' new stadium host the Super Bowl?
That timing of the stadium's 2030 opening could make it a candidate to host a Super Bowl.
The NFL has already awarded Super Bowls through 2030, with Los Angeles hosting in 2027, Atlanta in 2028, Las Vegas in 2029 and Nashville in 2030.
That makes Super Bowl
LXV in 2031 the first available Super Bowl that could come to DC.
Mayor Bowser has made no secret of the city's interest.
“I believe, you heard it here, in 2031 we’re going to host the Super Bowl. All right, that’s what I believe,” she said last year.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has also saidthe new stadium would "dramatically" improve the Commanders' chances of hosting a Super Bowl.
New Orleans is among the other cities pursuing the Super Bowl in 2031, meaning DC's new stadium does not guarantee it will host the game.
The new stadium would also have to meet the NFL's requirements. Those requirements have included factors such as stadium capacity, weather protection, hotels and parking.
The planned DC stadium will have a roof and is expected to seat about 65,000, meaning capacity could be one issue if the NFL's requirements remain similar.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could the Washington Commanders new DC stadium host the Super Bowl?
