The D.C. Council is voting on the revised RFK Stadium deal on Aug. 1, which, if approved, would bring the Washington Commanders back to D.C. As the possibility of their return approaches, we couldn’t help reliving the Commanders glory days with longtime fan and Washington Post columnist Kevin Blackistone.
RFK Stadium, originally known as D.C. Stadium, became one of the first stadiums ever built that could host both football and baseball. The Washington Redskins played their first game at the stadium on Oct. 1, 1961 and went on to win three Super Bowls during their time in D.C.
The Redskins captured the region. On Sundays, grocery stores in D.C. would be empty. Elementary schools had Redskins pep rallies (some core memories for many on our team). Once, in the 80s, the team lost a game in Kansas City and 20,000 people still showed up at the airport to welcome them back. Then, when they won their first Super Bowl, President Reagan and Mayor Barry gave federal and city workers D.C. two hours paid leave to go to the celebration parade.
Sundays in our house were much less likely to be spent in the house of worship, unless you considered that house of worship to be D.C. Stadium.
Kevin Blackistone, Washington Post Sports Journalist
Of course it wasn't all roses. RFK Stadium also played a role in D.C.’s civil rights history. When the Redskins owner at the time, George Preston Marshall, refused to integrate his team, President Kennedy forced his hand by denying the team access to the then-federal stadium unless it was desegregated. Marshall relented and drafted a black player, Ernie Davis, becoming the last NFL owner to integrate. Not D.C.’s proudest moment.
Washington Redskins Paul Laaveg, left, and tackle Ray Schoenke lead blocking for Charley Harraway on July 27, 1972. (The Washington Post/Getty Images)
The team relocated 35 years later to Landover, Maryland, but RFK Stadium still saw success hosting matches in the 1994 World Cup and 1996 Summer Olympics. It also hosted The Beatles’ penultimate concert in front of 32,000 fans and a mass wedding with over 40,000 guests.
With the team in Maryland and Dan Snyder taking over as owner in 1999, local fanaticism over the team faded. The small neighborhood feel at games was gone and fans turned to other sports like baseball and basketball for their fix.
Bringing the team back to D.C. would be a big point of pride for the city. (Indeed, Mayor Bowser and the team are relying on that nostalgia to help sell the deal). But, will it actually bring back the glory days?
“ It'll be different, but the enthusiasm and pride that people had in the old team, I certainly think that can happen again,” said Blackistone. As someone who was too young to experience the early days of RFK stadium, I certainly hope so.
