The Daily Dig
The Washington Commanders have selected a joint venture of Clark Construction Group, Mortenson, and Smoot Construction Company of Washington, DC to build the team's new stadium. The venture, operating as Clark | Mortenson | SmootDC, will lead construction on a 1.8 million square foot enclosed stadium seating approximately 65,000 fans. The site sits on the former RFK Stadium grounds in Washington, DC.
The stadium will anchor a 180-acre campus built for year-round use. Once complete, the campus will be able to host more than 200 events annually, including NFL games, concerts, community festivals, and national celebrations. Sustainability, advanced technology, and an immersive fan experience are central to the design. The Commanders are calling it the single largest private investment in the city's history.
Ownership has tied the project to two commitments beyond construction itself. The team is prioritizing Certified Business Enterprise participation and hiring DC residents, with the goal of directing real, lasting benefit to DC-based businesses and residents.
The joint venture's combined track record includes Nationals Park and Capital One Arena in DC, along with NFL venues Allegiant Stadium and U.S. Bank Stadium. Smoot Construction has operated in the DC market for nearly 60 years, pairing that local history with the other two firms' national mega-stadium experience.
Enabling work at the former RFK site began in June to prepare the site for construction. The build itself is set to start in spring 2027, with the team targeting completion by spring 2030.
Snapshot:
Project: New Washington Commanders Stadium
Owner/Team: Washington Commanders
Builder: Clark | Mortenson | SmootDC, A Joint Venture (Clark Construction Group, Mortenson, Smoot Construction Company of Washington, DC)
Lead Architect: HKS
Location: Former RFK Stadium site, Washington, DC
Sector: Sports and entertainment venue
Size: 1.8 million square feet
Value: Approximately $3.7-3.8 billion (stadium); nearly $4 billion including broader campus development
Capacity: Approximately 65,000 seats
Design Features: Enclosed, climate-controlled venue, sustainability and advanced technology focus
Campus Size: 180 acres
Event Capacity: More than 200 events annually
Labor Strategy: Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) participation, DC resident hiring priority
Investment Significance: Largest private investment in Washington, DC history
Enabling Work Start: June
Construction Start: Spring 2027
Targeted Completion: Spring 2030
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The spring 2027 to spring 2030 window gives the JV roughly three years for vertical construction. That is a fast pace for a stadium this size, and it puts real pressure on the JV to have its sub base and scope planning lined up well before ground breaks. CBE-certified firms in the DC metro should be watching for procurement updates closely as the project moves toward its 2027 start.
Smoot's six decades in the DC market bring something the national partners cannot replicate on their own: existing relationships with local subs, suppliers, and CBE-certified firms. That local depth is often what determines whether a diversity and local-hire program is executed well or just exists on paper.
Enabling work is already underway to prepare the RFK site for construction, though the release doesn't detail the scope of that work. Civil and site-development contractors already engaged should track how that scope evolves as the project moves toward its spring 2027 start, since early positioning tends to shape which firms get first look at later packages.
Source: The Washington Commanders
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