Redskins President Bruce Allen talked to reporters about plans for a new stadium during a press conference from Richmond on Monday, revealing that the team will not drop its name to get one.
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Governors Larry Hogan of Maryland and Terry McAuliffe of Virginia have both said Washington’s name wouldn’t be an obstacle to building a new stadium in their respective states.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser in April that the National Park Service – which owns the land where the team’s former home, RFK Stadium, sits in the city – wouldn’t grant a new lease because of objections to the team’s name.
“We’ve had great conversations with all the areas and the design is something that we’ve started on, but really, it is preliminary right now”, Allen said, referring to Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
Washington D.C. appears unlikely to welcome the franchise if the team remains steadfast in keeping the Redskins moniker. He used the occasion to announce that the Redskins will build a second playground for children in Richmond on the site of the Bon Secours Training Camp facility. They’re exploring options in all three places for a new stadium, but if the controversy over their name is a deal breaker, then Allen says they won’t move forward.
The six-year veteran recorded 22 sacks with the Saints over the last two seasons, but New Orleans released him due to off the field problems. Native Indian groups, politicians, and journalists continue to condemn Allen and team owner Dan Snyder for their unwavering commitment to keeping it as the team’s identity. “We wanted to get ahead of it and start doing the preliminary work”.
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Allen reiterated that a new stadium wouldn’t be ready any time in the next four years. Allen’s answer was direct and to the point. Depends how we do today on the practice field. It’s very clear on what we expect of him.
