WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser tried Thursday to correct misinformation amplified online by Elon Musk about how Congress鈥� end-of-year spending bill will impact efforts for a potential new stadium for the NFL鈥檚 Washington Commanders.
Incorrect reports on Musk-owned X were reposted by Musk claiming that Congress' spending bill includes $3 billion for a new football stadium. The resolution, which has been , includes a provision to from the federal government to the District for 99 years.
That transfer is for the Commanders to potentially build a new stadium in the franchise鈥檚 old home, though the team is still considering locations in the District, Maryland and Virginia.
鈥淚t was stated that the CR contains $3 billion for a stadium,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淎ll wrong. There are no federal dollars related to the transfer of RFK, and in fact the legislation does not require or link at all to a stadium. We鈥檙e talking about how the District can invest in removing blight.鈥�
Musk a false report about the $3 billion and said 鈥淭his should not be funded by your tax dollars!鈥�
Bowser made the comments while celebrating the start of an for the NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards. She stood alongside Monumental Sports president and CEO Ted Leonsis, owner of both teams, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and others for a wall-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of work on Capital One Arena downtown. Keeping those teams in D.C. after a fell apart is considered a major victory for Bowser and the city.
鈥淚've got to say, what a difference a year makes,鈥� Ward 2 councilmember Brooke Pinto said at the unveiling of renderings for what the arena in Chinatown should look like when construction is complete in the fall of 2027. 鈥淭ed Leonsis, thank you so much for believing in this city.鈥�
Leonsis called it a landmark day for the District and his company. The project includes $515 million in public funding as part of the agreement for the Capitals and Wizards to stay, with the rest paid for by Monumental.
鈥淲hen you see those signs, 鈥楶lease excuse our dust,鈥� there鈥檚 going to be a lot of dust here," Leonsis said. "This project is massive. It鈥檒l probably take three seasons to do it, and it鈥檚 $800 million. It is a significant, significant program. But after you see what we鈥檙e going to do for the players, the fans and the city, it鈥檒l be worth the wait.鈥�
The Commanders have been looking for a new stadium site for several years, including since the summer of 2023, when a group led by Josh Harris from former owner Dan Snyder for a North American professional sports record $6.05 billion. Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this month on the RFK Stadium land provision, and its involvement in the spending bill looked like a major victory for the team and league.
Bowser said she did not see another path forward for the legislation this session if it is not part of the bill, a bipartisan negotiation to avoid a government shutdown and provide billions of dollars in disaster relief, among other things.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done all we鈥檙e supposed to do, and this is the vehicle that has been identified 鈥� and agreed to by Democrats and Republicans,鈥� Bowser said. "Have you been to RFK? Anybody? (It is) 177 acres surrounded by asphalt and a stadium that hasn鈥檛 been used in 10 years that is a blight on the nation鈥檚 capital. Now, I agree with the president-elect on this point: We want to make our nation鈥檚 capital the most beautiful capital in the world, so we have to move and free RFK.鈥�
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AP NFL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
