Prince George’s County officials are spearheading a study to examine the feasibility of moving Redskins Park to Prince George’s County.
“We are now expressing an interest in becoming the permanent headquarters of this much beloved and storied franchise,” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker said in a statement. “With our central location in the region and the Redskins existing facilities at FedEx Field in Landover, we believe that Prince George’s County offers an excellent choice for the Redskins’ management, staff, coaches, and players to work and live.”
In February, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder told the Washington Post that the team was looking into the possibility of moving from its aging headquarters on an old 162-acre farm in Ashburn, Va.
“We want to look state of the art,” Snyder said. “We’ve been looking at a lot of plans for the New York Jets facility that they just opened. We really like that. We have an older facility, and we need a new one. So we’re open to moving our headquarters.”
Under the lease agreement, which brought the Redskins to FedEx Field in Landover, the county was given the right of first refusal should the franchise relocate.
The subject was broached by Del. Jay Walker, D.-Dist. 26, and county officials then contacted the Redskins.
“This represents a tremendous opportunity for Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland when you consider bringing 200 jobs into the County and the State,” said Walker in a statement. “This goes along with our vision of Prince George’s County to be a wonderful place to live, work, and play.”
The county has committed one-third of the estimated $25,000 the study will cost. It expects its funds to be matched by the Maryland Stadium Authority and the state Department of Business and Economic Development.
If the team relocated, the new Redskins Park would be located off of Route 197 and Lemons Bridge Road in Bowie near the Bowie State University MARC station.