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FanSided

The Case for Moving the Redskins Back to a Downtown D.C. Stadium

By Tim Payne

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 18: Albert Haynesworth #92 the Washington Redskins struggles to get off the field against the Kansas City Chiefs during their game October 18, 2009 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs won the game 14-6. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 18: Albert Haynesworth #92 the Washington Redskins struggles to get off the field against the Kansas City Chiefs during their game October 18, 2009 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs won the game 14-6. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 18: Albert Haynesworth #92 the Washington Redskins struggles to get off the field against the Kansas City Chiefs during their game October 18, 2009 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs won the game 14-6. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 18: Albert Haynesworth #92 the Washington Redskins struggles to get off the field against the Kansas City Chiefs during their game October 18, 2009 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs won the game 14-6. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /

The Redskins have to continue to change their image to become a winning organization. Moving to a downtown D.C. stadium could do that.

The reality is, only a fool would try to argue that the move to Landover, Maryland and FedEx Field has been anything but an abject failure for our beloved Redskins franchise. FedEx Field has been the site of the worst 20-year span in franchise history, playing host to some of the most excruciating losses and embarrassing blunders in the otherwise proud history of the Washington Redskins.

Some key names that made their Redskins mark at FedEx: Jim Zorn, Albert Haynesworth, Brandon Merriweather, Gus Frerotte, Donovan McNabb, Terrelle Pryor, and John Beck. Enough said.

Not to say that the team hasn’t had any bright spots in the stadium.  But it’s been a lot more “Monday Night Massacre” than “Found Money“.

More from Riggo's Rag

While the decision to move the team to a stadium outside of D.C. was not the decision of Mr. Snyder, it is the kind of move emblematic of his era of ownership. A short-sighted, short-term profit grab that ignored both tradition and the loyal fan base that had turned the franchise into one of the most valuable in all of sports.

Owners who want to win above all else don’t make these types of decisions.  Owners who want to win above all else work hard to maximize their home-field advantage by making it easy for their fans to come to every home game.

The Atlanta Falcons dropped concession prices for their new stadium to make it more fan-friendly. The Dallas Mavericks routinely give hundreds of tickets away to fans who show up most fanatically attired in support of their home games. The Tampa Bay Lightning even go so far as to ban opposing team colors! In a salary-capped league, it’s these kinds of efforts that differentiate between the owners who are in it for the money, and the owners who want to win as much as their fan base does.

The recent surge of joy and fanatic support for the #ALLCAPS and their magical run to the cup and the subsequent massive downtown parade, for a sport far less popular than the NFL, highlights the fact that building up and investing in the franchise’s connection to downtown D.C., investing in the fan experience, and prioritizing D.C partnerships is the best way to build a successful franchise both on and off the field (or ice in this case).  Moving on from coach Trotz, on the other hand, feels like a very FedEx Field type of move.

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