Washington Redskins: Richmond a possible site for new stadium?

Richmond already has semi-pro baseball, professional soccer, and NASCAR — and they should be the next stop for a Washington Redskins stadium.

There’s no reason why Richmond isn’t a good option for a new Washington Redskins stadium beyond Loudoun County. The city is busy with a little of everything when it comes to nightlife, shopping, and tourism. FedEx Field is a victim of location and poor marketing to the surrounding area.

Washington Post reporter Dan Steinberg summed up the current state of the FedEx Field experience:

"Among the most consistent complaints about FedEx Field is something that has less to do with the stadium than with its surroundings: there is nothing to do there. The only real pregame entertainment around the stadium consists of tailgating, and maybe visiting that crowded McDonald’s or the one Taco Bell across the street."

This is where the city of Richmond can solve that problem. Already home to two stadiums (The Diamond and City Stadium), the community is a sports hub. There is also the college community, fed by schools from Virginia Commonwealth University, to University of Richmond, to Virginia Union University. Richmond not having an NFL team almost seems unfair.

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So what’s keeping Richmond out of the conversation? Political correctness? I doubt it. If that were the case, the city would have fought harder against the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center.

Is the governor thinking about revenue? Maybe he thinks the good citizens of Northern Virginia have a few more dollars to spend. According to the government website Virginia Performs, that might be true. Here is an interesting figure:

"Within Virginia, the Northern region again had the highest per capita personal income in 2015 at $67,548 (in 2015 dollars)."

If Northern Virginia wants to keep the campaign of having the Redskins stadium built in their area, they’ve got to market FedEx Field better with the locals. Otherwise, Richmond would be a better fit.

Like you, I’ve gone back and forth on the issue, but if it’s going to happen, this may be the easiest route. If Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe really wants the Redskins to stay in Virginia, market the city of Richmond as an option.

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The District of Columbia will never see the Redskins again, thanks to the level of expectation to change the team’s name. They can’t shop the idea without politicians losing votes. It’s either Loudoun County or Richmond, and I think Richmond may be the best choice.