Commanders have a new stadium name

The Washington Commanders have a new name again — this time for their stadium.

On Tuesday, the Commanders announced a partnership with Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) announced a multi-year, exclusive naming-rights agreement that will change the name of Commanders Field to Northwest Stadium.

Washington’s home stadium opened in 1997 as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, but in 1999, it was renamed FedEx Field after Daniel Snyder bought the franchise from the Cooke family. Snyder reached a 27-year deal with FedEx that paid the team an average of $7.6 million annually. FedEx terminated the agreement earlier this year with two years remaining.

The new agreement runs through the 2031 season.

The Commanders remain in pursuit of a new stadium, with three jurisdictions (Maryland, Washington, D.C, & Virginia) all in contention. The old RFK Stadium site in D.C. is a top priority, but several hurdles still exist.

Washington managing partner Josh Harris released the following statement:

Northwest Federal Credit Union has been an integral part of this community for generations and we could not be prouder to partner with an organization as committed to the DMV as we are. As we continue to work toward our goal of building the Commanders into an elite franchise that consistently competes for championships, we are excited to welcome our team and fans to Northwest Stadium and look forward to creating incredible memories together on the field and in the communities we serve.

Northwest Federal Credit Union President & CEO Jeff Bentley also released a statement.

Northwest is thrilled to continue building on the great work we have achieved alongside the Commanders. With a combined history of nearly 170 years in the D.C. metro area, this expanded partnership was an amazing alignment of our values to enrich the local community. It is an honor to be able to welcome everyone to ‘Northwest Stadium’ and introduce the inspiring initiatives that this collaboration represents. Together, we look forward to ensuring that Northwest Stadium is an impactful place where we rally together over our common love of football, giving back to the community, and creating memorable experiences that last a lifetime.

The Commanders open the 2024 regular season on Sept. 8 at Tampa Bay. Washington’s first home game at Northwest Stadium will be on Sept. 15 against the New York Giants.