There is resistance and uncertainty surrounding the Washington Commanders’ stadium plans.

The Washington Commanders want to build a new stadium. However, any agreement reached between the franchise and the District of Columbia is subject to two important caveats.

First, the business partners of team owner Josh Harris must give their approval, and second, the Washington, D.C., City Council must also give its consent. The second component could prove to be a challenge.

The Washington Post reports that Mayor Muriel Bowser is pushing ahead with the potential deal. However, City Council President Phil Mendelson recently stated that he had not been informed about the negotiations with the team nor consulted on the matter.

He added, “I find it troubling that the mayor believes a unilateral approach is the best way forward, especially when the City Council must ultimately give its approval.”

Housing instead of a stadium?

To make matters worse, Congress has cut $1 billion from the US capital’s budget, leaving a deficit of $410 million.

The potential deal, first reported by NBC Washington, would mean that the team and/or the NFL would have to contribute up to $2.5 billion of the $3 billion stadium. However, the city would still have to contribute $500 million.

Incidentally, there is also resistance to the stadium plans among the population. A campaign called “Homes Not Stadiums” is currently underway, advocating for more affordable housing instead of a new stadium.