Landover businesses fear losing Commanders fans as DC pushes to win back the football team

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — As D.C. officials may launch a major offensive to bring the Washington Commanders back to the city to play their home games, the restaurants in the shadow of their current home field in Landover, Maryland, are hoping the team takes them up on the offer.

Late last week, Congress passed a bill that would transfer control of the federally owned land that now houses the rusting shell of the old RFK Stadium to D.C., allowing the city to build a new NFL stadium and potentially the Commanders could return to the district for their home games for the first time since the 1996 season.

Since the 1997 season, the Commanders have called Landover, Maryland home, and businesses near Northwest Stadium, such as Milk & Honey, have benefited from the additional traffic on game days.

SEE ALSO: Maryland Gov. Moore’s letter of intent aims to transform the Landover site

“We are busy on Sundays. I think the Commanders fans feed into our Sundays. They are in the areas. These are popular shopping areas. There will definitely likely be a spike after or before the games,” said Milk & Honey cashier Lian Agwumezie.

Several hotels, shops and restaurants are a short drive or walk from Prince George’s County Stadium.

For these companies looking to make more dollars and cents, getting those additional customers on game day while the Commanders’ defense falls back to nickel and dime coverage was critical.

“I think this is extremely important. You definitely want to attract the additional guests that come into the restaurant and probably get more sales,” Agwumezie said.

At the end of the congressional session, the RFK Stadium bill appeared dead after it was removed from the funding bill that lawmakers passed to prevent a government shutdown.

Less than an hour later, however, it was brought back from the dead when the Senate passed it as a standalone bill in the early hours of Saturday. The House passed the bill in February with overwhelming bipartisan support and had to struggle for months in the Senate.

Before the stadium bill was passed, Commanders owner Josh Harris, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and incumbent Prince George’s County signed an agreement in which the team would pay for the demolition of Northwest Stadium and help plan a redevelopment with equal economic benefits if if this were the case it should go. However, this deal is non-binding.

Meanwhile, Maryland leaders are still working to keep the team in Prince George’s County.

“We would love for the Commanders to stay in Prince George’s County. We think that’s the best fit,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, Md. “They’ve been playing there for almost 30 years now, and we can do something.” There’s a lot of redevelopment going on with a new stadium around that place out there .

Should the team leave, Agwumezie told 7News that Milk & Honey has locations near the RFK Stadium site, but is concerned about what impact a move would have on the location – and other businesses – near Northwest Stadium.

“We would definitely miss this upswing. We would definitely like to keep these customers and game-ready fans here,” Agwumezie said. “Obviously you always want to keep those game-ready fans, people you know, people who want to come there before the game because it’s a great place. If they go to DC, they will.” I’m seeing a decline because people aren’t coming over on Sunday, they’re going to other places in DC.