The Washington Commanders’ stadium will soon bear the name of a company based in Herndon.
Northwest Federal Credit Union, which is headquartered at 200 Spring Street, announced today (Tuesday) that it has secured the exclusive naming rights to Commanders Field, the home stadium for D.C.’s NFL team.
The Landover, Maryland, facility’s rebranding as Northwest Stadium will officially be unveiled at a joint press conference before the team’s home opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 15.
“It is an honor to be able to welcome everyone to ‘Northwest Stadium’ and introduce the inspiring initiatives that this collaboration represents,” Northwest Federal Credit Union President and CEO Jeff Bentley said in a press release. “Together, we look forward to ensuring that Northwest Stadium is an impactful place where we rally together over our common love of football, giving back to the community, and creating memorable experiences that last a lifetime.”
To celebrate the deal, the company is holding a social media contest for a prize pack that includes two club seats to the Commanders’ home opener.
Want to win a Northwest Stadium prize pack including some club seats at the @Commanders home opener on September 15th? 👀Follow, retweet, and tag 2 friends. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/JsaKuDaWDt
— Northwest Federal (@NWFCU) August 27, 2024
Established in 1947, Northwest Federal has more than 279,000 members nationwide. It became the Commanders’ official credit union partner last year and has supported the team’s charity efforts, including a community reading program and an annual “Harvest Feast” that provides Thanksgiving meals to Prince George’s County families.
The naming rights for the Commanders’ stadium were up for grabs after FedEx terminated a $205 million agreement in February — two years ahead of its expiration date. The stadium had been known as FedEx Field since 1999, when longtime owner Dan Snyder bought the team and sold the naming rights.
Northwest Federal Credit Union’s naming-rights agreement will last eight years and has a higher annual value on average than the deal with FedEx, according to the Associated Press.
As part of the expanded partnership, Northwest’s branding will be displayed around the stadium, including in a new stadium logo, and the company will get a patch on the jerseys that players wear during both in-season and off-season practices. Northwest members will also get “several new experiences and benefits…such as discounts on tickets and merchandise,” per the release.
“Northwest Federal Credit Union has been an integral part of this community for generations and we could not be prouder to partner with an organization as committed to the DMV as we are,” Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris said. “As we continue to work toward our goal of building the Commanders into an elite franchise that consistently competes for championships, we are excited to welcome our team and fans to Northwest Stadium and look forward to creating incredible memories together on the field and in the communities we serve.”
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, whose district includes the Herndon area, called the agreement “huge news” in a tweet.
Huge news for Herndon's own @NWFCU extending their partnership with the @Commanders #RaiseHailhttps://t.co/9o3mHNsjDH
— Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (@SupvBierman) August 27, 2024
According to the release, Northwest is the first credit union to ever get the naming rights to an NFL stadium.
Even as it celebrates the name change, the Commanders continue to search for a new home, with the team’s lease for the stadium at 1600 Fedex Way expiring in 2027. Harris expressed hope this week that a new stadium could open by 2030, but exactly where that will be remains to be determined.
D.C. recently commissioned a firm to develop plans for a new venue at the former site of RFK Stadium, which is being demolished. However, Congress needs to pass a bill transferring the property to D.C. from the National Park Service, and the project would still have to get approved by D.C.’s city council.
Virginia was in the mix for the Commanders stadium, with the team even moving to acquire land in Woodbridge back in 2022, but the possibility largely faded after Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Alexandria officials announced plans in December for a joint Washington Capitals and Wizards arena in Potomac Yard — a project that fell through this spring.
Image via Google Maps
