The Washington Commanders’ surprising playoff push has fans dreaming big—not just about a postseason run, but the prospect of a brand-new stadium for their beloved team. Josh Harris, the new owner of the Commanders, is the man responsible for turning that dream into a reality.
If Harris believes that constructing a state-of-the-art football stadium in the nation’s capital will be a straightforward process, he should consider the challenging task he faces in Philadelphia.
The 76 Place Saga
As the managing partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Josh Harris has ambitious plans to transform Philadelphia’s Market East district with a new $1.3 billion home for his basketball team, the Philadelphia 76ers, called “76 Place.” However, since its initial announcement, community opposition and political roadblocks have plagued this project.
Local business owners in neighboring Chinatown, like Xu Lin of Bubblefish Restaurant, are staunchly opposed to the arena, fearing it will bring increased traffic, competition, and ultimately drive them out of business. Lin expressed unity among the community to WUSA9. “We don’t want this in Chinatown.”
Patience And Persistence
Harris has promised to build 76 Place at no cost to taxpayers and generate over $1.5 billion in new tax revenue, but the project has struggled to gain full political support. Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district encompasses the proposed site, referred to it as “the most-lobbied project” he has encountered.
It’s taken years of negotiations and public hearings for the project to even reach the stage of pending City Council approval. And even now, the Save Chinatown Coalition continues to stage protests, determined to block the arena’s construction.
A Preview Of What’s To Come For The Commanders?
The drawn-out saga in Philadelphia may well be a preview of what Josh Harris can expect when he tries to build a new stadium for the Commanders in Washington, D.C. “As a community, we are united. We don’t want this in Chinatown.” Xu Lin, Bubblefish Restaurant owner.
Unlike the 76ers arena, Harris will almost certainly need taxpayer support to fund a new football stadium—a project that is far more expensive. And already, community groups in D.C. are lining up to oppose the team’s potential return to the RFK site, even before any formal proposal has been made.
“The fight in Philly could be a preview of what Harris might face when he tries to build a new football stadium for the Commanders,” said WUSA9 reporter Adam Longo.
Patience and Persistence, Redux
Despite the challenges, Harris seems undeterred. As Tad Brown, CEO of Harris’ sports and entertainment company, said in January: “We’re probably not going to make everybody see things exactly the way we would like—be it here or anywhere else, but we’re going to be open and transparent and try to make sure that they understand that we care, and we want to have the dialogue about it.”
And in Philadelphia, that dialogue is finally starting to yield results. After years of resistance, Philadelphia’s new mayor, Cherelle Parker, threw her support behind the 76 Place project in October. Weeks later, the City Council agreed to hold public hearings on the legislation, with a vote expected in December.
The Clock Is Ticking For The Commander
As for the Commanders, the team’s ownership has indicated fans may have to wait until 2030 before they get their long-awaited new stadium, as the franchise waits to see if D.C. will be a viable option.
One thing is clear: Josh Harris will need to draw upon all of his patience and persistence if he hopes to make the Commanders’ stadium dreams a reality in the nation’s capital. The fight ahead is likely to be every bit as arduous as the one he’s facing in Philadelphia.
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