Washington's NFL franchise will return to the U.S. capital as part of an agreement between the organization and the District of Columbia government to establish a new stadium, which will total nearly $4 billion as part of the program.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that the District of Columbia and commanders reached an agreement to build a new home for New York City football teams, the old RFK Stadium, a franchise called "home" for more than three decades. It will open in 2030 and is expected to open in a groundbreaking manner next year, pending approval by the city council.

Commanders are donating $2.7 billion, and over the next eight years, the city has invested about $1.1 billion in 170 acres of land bordering the Anacostia River. The stadium itself will only occupy 16 of these acres.

The team and the mayor announced the move in a video posted on social media, told by Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann, who talked about his experience playing at RFK Stadium and how new people benefited the city.

"Let's take the commander home," Theisman said. "It's time. Let's bring Washington back to the District of Columbia"

City and team officials and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell unveiled plans at a National News Club event, amid the context of “Welcome Home.” Mambo Sauce's "Welcome to DC" yelled as Goodell, Bowser and holding owner Josh Harris attended the cheers.

Since the 2022 acquisition of the team from Dan Snyder, the commander's ownership has been considering places in Washington, Maryland and Virginia. Recent progress comes after Congress passed a bill that transferred RFK Stadium land to DC, signed by former President Joe Biden in early January, which was lobbied on Capitol Hill and Goodell at the end of last year.

Since moving there in 1997, Washington has played football in Landover, Maryland. Landover's commander leases until 2027.

The team played at the RFK Stadium, two miles (3.22 km) east of the U.S. Capitol between 1961 and 96 before moving to Maryland. Harris and several co-owners, including Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, grew up as Washington football fans in that era, including the glorious days of the three Super Bowl Championships in 1982-91.