Prince George’s County lawmakers are hoping for improved development around Northwest Stadium after the Washington Commanders announced that the team plans to relocate to Washington, D.C.

The football team announced on April 28 a $3.7 billion deal with the District of Columbia’s government to renovate and move to the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The NFL team has been based at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, since 1997.

In a news release on April 28, Acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson said the county will continue its plans to redevelop the area around Northwest Stadium through the Blue Line Corridor project.

The Maryland Board of Public Works in January 2023 approved $400 million in bonds for the project, which aims to boost economic growth in the county by building a library and cultural center, shopping centers and other multipurpose facilities in areas along the Capitol Heights to Largo Metro Stations, including the area around Northwest Stadium.

“This moment presents an extraordinary opportunity — not just for football fans, but for families and small businesses across the County,” Jackson wrote in the news release. “We remain fully committed to redeveloping the Landover site into a dynamic, mixed-use sports and entertainment district that enhances the fan experience and benefits our community year-round.”

Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement last month that Maryland officials “fought hard” to keep the team in the state but were prepared for the possibility of this move. Moore wrote that state leaders’ priority was economic expansion in Landover, regardless of the team’s decision.

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The Commanders’ owners agreed to begin demolishing Northwest Stadium within 90 days of their first game at the new stadium and provide security and maintenance in the area during the redevelopment process, Moore wrote.

The team also agreed to collaborate with local officials on a redevelopment plan as part of the Blue Line Corridor, which would stimulate economic growth at least equal to what the stadium currently provides.

Maryland Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s), who represents Maryland’s 24th District, where Northwest Stadium is, told The Diamondback he is proud that Moore and other state officials secured these commitments from the football team.

“I think having an NFL franchise that owns the land planning to be a partner in something that happens in the district is helpful,” Lewis said.

While Lewis said he was disappointed in the team’s announcement, he believes having the team as a partner opens up opportunities for the county.

Funding for the Blue Line Corridor has already gone toward expanding housing, attracting grocery stores to areas that are food deserts and improving health care for residents, Lewis said.

“There is a lot going on at Blue Line Corridor,” Lewis said. “We decided to bet on ourselves and our people in advance.”

The development project will make the county more walkable and introduce more jobs and housing because it focuses on areas near Metro stations, District 3 Prince George’s County Council member Eric Olson told The Diamondback.

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“That will create a longer term, more sustainable pattern of development,” Olson said.

The renovated RFK Stadium is expected to open in 2030. The District is investing more than $1 billion through 2032 for the stadium as well as surrounding housing, a sportsplex and greenspace, the Associated Press reported last month. But this funding still needs to be approved by the D.C. Council, the news agency reported.

Oliver Duvelcin, sous chef and manager at Milk & Honey Express, a restaurant near Northwest Stadium, said the restaurant gets about $2,000 more in revenue on Commanders game days.

“As soon as the doors open up [on game days], we’ll start seeing people start pouring in,” Duvelcin said.

Duvelcin said he believes the business will be affected by the move, but he doesn’t foresee a significant impact because the games only happen every other week during football season.

Olson said he does not think the move will negatively impact businesses in the region because he believes most people come to the stadium and leave on game days instead of visiting the surrounding area.

Lewis said local officials have ideas to improve development around the stadium and hope to encourage restaurants to move to the area.

“We’re just at the early stage of a long planning process of figuring out what this is going to look like,” Lewis said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated  Acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson’s title. This story has been updated.