Sports

NFL team won't give up racist name in exchange for stadium

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

An aerial view of RFK Stadium, the former home of the Washington NFL team, in 1998. Photo by U.S. Air Force via Wikipedia

The Washington NFL team won't change its name just to land a new stadium, President Bruce Allen said on Monday.

The team currently plays at the FedEx Field in Maryland and has begun discussions about its future home. Allen confirmed preliminary talks with officials in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., but said the racist mascot isn't on the table.

“No," was Allen's short response when asked about the controversy, according to news reports.

The team used to play at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in D.C. The National Park Service owns the land beneath the facility and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has indicated she won't entertain talks unless the racist mascot goes away.

The District of Columbia Council and the Arlington County Board in Virginia have passed resolutions calling on the team to eliminate its name. Lawmakers in Maryland have been considering similar legislation.

Get the Story:
Redskins president dismisses name change for new stadium (AP 8/17)
Redskins President Bruce Allen says team won’t reconsider nickname in pursuit of new stadium (The Washington Post 8/17)