Northwest Stadium
Photo: Maryland GovPics · CC BY 2.0 · source
- Capacity
- 64,000
- Year opened
- 1997
- Club
- —
- Country
- United States
- Sport
- American football
Overview
About the stadium
Northwest Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Landover, Maryland, in the United States, located about 4 km east of Washington, D.C. With a capacity of 64,000 spectators, it is the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders. It opened in 1997 and was formerly known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium and FedExField.
Location and surroundings
The stadium stands in Landover, in Prince George's County, Maryland, within the census-designated place of Summerfield, roughly 4 km east of Washington, D.C. Its closeness to the capital makes it a natural venue for large sporting and non-sporting events across the wider Washington area and ensures good access for fans from throughout the region.
Main uses
This is a multi-purpose stadium whose main tenant is the American football team Washington Commanders of the NFL. The stadium is owned and operated by the club itself, while non-NFL events are managed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). The venue once had the largest capacity in the entire NFL at 91,000; today it seats 64,000 spectators.
History
Journey through time
Northwest Stadium is one of the newer venues in the National Football League. Since opening it has gone through changes of name and capacity, and for most of its life it has served as the home of the club now known as the Washington Commanders. Its story is tied to providing a venue for one of the league's largest markets.
Construction and opening
The stadium opened in 1997 as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. From the start it was conceived as a large-capacity multi-purpose venue for American football close to Washington, D.C., becoming the home of the club representing the capital and its surroundings.
Major renovations
The most visible changes concerned the name and capacity. From 1999 until 2024 the stadium was known as FedExField. Between 2004 and 2010 it had the NFL's largest capacity at 91,000; the seating was subsequently adjusted to today's 64,000 spectators. The venue has used its current name, Northwest Stadium, since 2024.
Notable moments
The stadium has long been associated with the Washington Commanders. The club is scheduled to vacate the venue once a new stadium at the RFK Campus in Washington, D.C. is completed, with its opening expected in 2030.
Atmosphere
Matchday
The atmosphere at Northwest Stadium is defined by its role as the home venue of the Washington Commanders right next to Washington, D.C. The stadium ranks among the large arenas of the NFL and has for years been a focal point for American football fans from the capital and the wider metropolitan area.
Fan culture
The fan base centers on the Washington Commanders, for whom the stadium is home. Thanks to its location just 4 km from Washington, D.C., supporters travel in from across the metropolitan area. In the past, when the venue had the largest capacity in the league at 91,000, it was among the best-attended arenas in the NFL, underlining its importance to local football culture.
Big matches
As the home venue of the Washington Commanders, the stadium regularly hosts NFL regular-season and playoff games. Given its location by the capital and its former record capacity within the league, it has staged high-attendance fixtures for years. The club is scheduled to move to a new stadium at the RFK Campus after 2030.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Visiting Northwest Stadium is convenient for fans across the metropolitan area thanks to its location near Washington, D.C. The venue, seating 64,000 spectators, is home to the Washington Commanders and lies in Landover, Maryland, just a few kilometres from the capital's center.
How to get there
The stadium is located in Landover, in Prince George's County, Maryland, roughly 4 km east of Washington, D.C. Its proximity to the capital makes it readily accessible to visitors from across the wider Washington area.
Tickets and tours
Tickets are purchased per game or event, with programming following the NFL schedule and other events. Non-NFL events are managed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), while Washington Commanders games are run by the club itself as owner and operator of the venue.
Visitor tips
- Where it is: Landover, Prince George's County, Maryland, about 4 km from Washington, D.C.
- Who to support: the home team, the Washington Commanders.
- What to expect: a large multi-purpose NFL arena.
- Good to know: the club plans to move to a new stadium after 2030.
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Prince George's County, United States
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