An aerial view of RFK stadium in 1998. Photo by U.S. Air Force
Could Republican president-elect Donald Trump welcome the Washington NFL team back to the nation's capitol, racist mascot and all? That's the speculation now that President Barack Obama is headed out the door. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who also will be leaving office soon, had been refusing to consider the use of federal land for a new NFL stadium due to the racist name. But the incoming president is all for the mascot. And whoever he nominates to run the Interior Department would likely not be bothered by it either. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has made no secret of her desire for the team to come back to the capital. The team currently plays at FedEx Field in Maryland and has training facilities in Virginia. The team once played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, which is located on federal land. Bowser would like to see that site utilized for a new stadium. “We always knew that on January 21st that conversation would restart, regardless of what happened” Bowser said at a press conference on Wednesday, when asked about the changes coming with Trump in the White House, The Washington Post reported. Trump's arrival in Washington could also impact a legal case. A group of Native youth convinced a federal board to cancel the team's trademarks because they are disparaging to indigenous peoples. The matter is still being litigated but arguments are on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court resolves a closely-related trademark dispute. A decision will be made with Trump in office and it could affect how the Department of Justice handles the Native youth case. Read More on the Story:
Trump could be D.C.’s ally in bringing Redskins to RFK (The Washington Post 11/11)
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