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Fox News
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Joe Theismann talks Commanders possibly honoring Redskins name, logo in future
The Washington Commanders will eventually return to the nation's capital and play at the old RFK Stadium site in a state-of-the-art stadium. One of the keys to earning federal lawmakers' support in building the stadium there was to have "good-faith negotiations" about honoring the franchise's legacy as the Redskins and the Native American family that created the original logo the team used for decades before switching names. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., made it clear in November on Fox News Channel's "America Reports." While Commanders team owner Josh Harris has made clear that the Commanders nickname is here to stay, Super Bowl champion Joe Theismann expressed optimism that the franchise will find a way to honor the logo and the family behind it. "I think Josh Harris and his group are certainly well aware of what the Redskins were – obviously being a big fan growing up in this area, it's a dream come true I'm sure for him and some of the people that are a part of the ownership group," Theismann told Fox News Digital. "In some way, shape or form they possibly will honor it. "I don't know whether people realize but the Redskin logo that was on our helmets was designed by a Native American, and it would be a great honor to be able to continue to honor the Native Americans and the tribes that are a part of that going forward. I mean, that's the way I felt when I put that uniform on. It was an honor for me to be able to represent the Washington Redskins, the Native Americans of this country. We won a Super Bowl, and I was given a chief's headdress. It would be nice again to sort of connect the old with the new." Theismann was adamant that the new faces of the franchise should establish their own path forward as the Commanders like the Redskins of his day established theirs. "Let this group of guys called the Commanders establish their own legacy," he said. "We had one, now it's their turn to establish theirs." Blackie Wetzel was credited with creating the portrait of John Two Guns White Calf in 1971, which the Washington Redskins used in 1972, Fox News Digital previously reported. The descendants of Two Guns White Calf also called for the image to be back in the NFL. Theismann spoke to Fox News Digital ahead of his appearance at the American Century Championship golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club. The festivities begin July 9 and run through July 13. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The Vans Warped Tour at 30
On Saturday around 6:30 p.m., the Army celebrated its 250th anniversary with the largest display of military prowess in the nation's capital in more than three decades. About three miles west of the parade route, in the festival grounds adjacent to RFK Stadium, a man wearing a 'Make America Emo Again' T-shirt watched Sublime perform, singing along, 'I smoke two joints in time of peace and two in time of war.' After a five-year hiatus, the Vans Warped tour was, undoubtedly, back.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
D.C. Council members say stadium approval is likely, but they need more time
D.C. Council members are working toward approving a football stadium for the Washington Commanders at the shuttered RFK Stadium site — but probably not by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser's (D) July deadline, several lawmakers said this week. The prospect of the council delaying a vote on the $3.7 billion deal has the team 'outraged,' Bowser said this week, and 'sacrifices our exclusive seat at the table and $2.7 billion in private investment.' Bowser has wanted the council to approve the deal with the Commanders as part of the council's fiscal year 2026 budget process — and the Commanders said this week that any delay beyond that threatens the team's construction timeline. But council members argued it was only fair that they take more time to consider a deal that involves more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds — especially since they said they still lacked key information, such as a full explanation of the Bowser administration's revenue projections for the project and an analysis of how much the proposed tax exemptions for the Commanders will cost the city. 'The mayor thinks that her deal is perfect, and that's great for her,' said council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large). 'I feel like there are areas where we can certainly improve.' The timeline tensions came into public view Tuesday, after NBC Washington reported on a closed council meeting where members discussed the possibility of voting on the terms of the RFK deal separately from the overall budget, which lawmakers are expected to approve in late July. The council would still approve the capital funding Bowser has allocated for the development with the budget, two lawmakers said this week. The discussion of RFK was one part of a broader talk about separating some of Bowser's policy proposals from the council's budget vote, according to a person who was in the meeting but spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. Bowser's budget proposal included a host of changes to D.C. law, including a repeal of the city's 'sanctuary city' policy and amendments to eviction law. No final decision was made on RFK, the person said. Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) said members talked about keeping the money for the RFK deal in the budget while taking out the policy language around the deal so they could possibly amend it. 'It is my belief that the deal will get done,' Parker said in a video he posted on social media in which he described the meeting. 'We will safeguard the money, and vote on this project sometime this fall.' But voting on the deal in the fall would violate a deadline that Bowser negotiated with the Commanders; a term sheet between the two parties set July 15 as a deadline for a council vote and says the team would no longer exclusively negotiate with the city if the council did not vote on the deal by then, or if the council 'materially changes' the deal's terms. And Bowser said in an interview Friday that even if the council voted to approve the capital funds, that would mean little without them also approving the terms. 'The team can't take that to the bank,' she said. The deal, which Bowser and the Commanders announced at the end of April, would involve $2.7 billion from the Commanders and more than $1 billion in city funds, some of which would help with stadium infrastructure and parking facilities for the stadium along with recreation improvements and other water and electric infrastructure. In recent weeks, council members have floated possible changes to the deal — including altering the placement and amount of parking, asking the Commanders to pay more than the proposed $1 per year in rent on the stadium and parking land, and exacting firmer labor commitments from the team. Henderson cast some doubt on the idea that an additional couple of months of council consideration would cause the Commanders to walk away from the city. 'Every indication that I have from them, from the NFL, from their extraordinary involvement,' she said, 'is that they want to be here, which is great.' Henderson has said she would support a stadium deal, but only if it is improved for taxpayers and has a stronger labor agreement. But Bowser said at a news conference Wednesday that the Commanders have 'very, very specific timelines' that would be upset by a council delay. 'I think they feel blindsided by the discussion,' she said of the team. The Commanders said they would be willing to work 'morning and night' with the council to get the deal passed in July. 'Throughout the process we have been clear: the Commanders need a new home by 2030. Any delay will make us unable to deliver on that timeline as well as prevent us from attracting major concerts, performers, and international events such as the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup to D.C.,' a team spokesperson said in a statement. Council member Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), whose ward encompasses the RFK site, took to social media to call the delay 'a direct hit to Ward 7' and say he 'won't stand for it.' Other lawmakers said they are missing key information they need to analyze the deal and noted that the council took months to consider past stadium deals like Audi Field and Nationals Park and approved them after adding cost-saving measures for the city. The council is paying an outside consultant to evaluate the term sheet and proposed legislation and is awaiting that report. After requests from reporters and council members, the Bowser administration posted a slide deck summarizing revenue projections for the RFK project, which included a prediction that it would generate $5.1 billion in tax revenue over a 33-year period, but lawmakers have been seeking a more detailed explanation of how the firm hired by the administration arrived at those numbers. That additional understanding did not come until Friday, said council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), when the company the city hired to develop revenue projections met with the council's budget office. 'What I'm told is that we got all the information we needed today,' he said in a brief interview Friday evening. Also missing, lawmakers said, is a tax abatement financial analysis from the city's chief financial officer, which D.C. law requires ahead of a council hearing on any bill that would include a tax abatement or exemption. That analysis would explain how much tax money the city would miss out on because of the exemptions it is offering the Commanders. The council has requested one, said a spokesman for the chief financial officer, but the spokesman said he did not know how long it would take to complete. Bowser, in an interview Friday, rebutted the idea that the council lacks the information it needs to deliberate on the deal. She said her team and the Commanders were 'ready to work with the council,' provided they say exactly what they want to change. 'I recognize that the council members feel like this is a lot all at once, and it is a lot all at once, but this is our opportunity,' said Bowser. 'This is when the opportunity has presented itself.' Even as the council's timeline has irked Bowser and the team, Mendelson this week gave a forceful indication that the council would approve the stadium in the end. Mendelson, who has been vocal about his personal opposition to public funds for football stadiums, said in a statement Wednesday evening that the council will 'move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor's terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium.' 'I can't guarantee votes, but I'm working toward understanding or improving the proposal to a point where a majority can vote yes,' Mendelson added in an interview Thursday, though he said it was 'way too soon' for him to provide specific changes to the deal and he planned to wait for the evaluation the council had commissioned. Even Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large), among the stadium's most vocal supporters on the council, said he wanted more answers from Bowser officials and the team before a vote. 'I plan to hold a hearing, hopefully working with the chairman,' said McDuffie. 'I think time is of the essence. The deal does need to happen. And the council has experience and history in making modifications that improve on these types of deals.' Meagan Flynn contributed to this report.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Largest LGBTQ+ Music Festival Is Coming To The Capital
Paris Hilton (seen here performing at the 2023 Dreamland Pride Festival) is set to take the stage on ... More Friday at World Pride Music Festival. Renowned worldwide for its eye-catching architecture, diverse dining scene and wealth of world-class museums, the city of Washington, D.C. has been a top-tier tourist destination for decades—and just last month, the capital kicked into full gear with the debut of WorldPride 2025. First launched in 2000, this bi-annual event has become a force within the global LGBTQ+ community, with a wealth of educational sessions and spirited events occurring across each iteration. Throughout the first week of June, participants can take part in celebrations like the 17th Street Block Party and official WorldPride Parade, but when it comes to all-out revelry, there's no beating the World Pride Music Festival. Officially slated for June 6th and 7th, this vibrant event is set to be the largest LGBTQ+ music festival in recorded history, bringing thousands of revelers to Washington's RFK Festival Grounds. Upon arrival, visitors can look forward to exploring three separate stages, each one coming to life with captivating pop performances and pulsing EDM beats alongside a wealth of other genres. The Friday festivities will bring a wide range of talent to the stage, with performers spanning from U.K. chart-topper Rita Ora to Tinashe, an R&B-pop sensation that recently made waves with her 2024 hit single 'Nasty'—and once the clock strikes 10:00, global pop phenomenon Jennifer Lopez is set to take the stage, capping off the day with a medley of unforgettable hits paired with high-energy dance performances. WorldPride first took place in Rome, with later host cities including Toronto, Madrid and Sydney. After a Friday full of stellar performances, World Pride Music Festival promises to deliver an equally enthralling Saturday, with acts like Slayyyter and Sasha Colby taking the stage during the first half of the day. Post-sunset, guests can grab a spot and catch Grammy Award-winning artist Kim Petras, while vocal powerhouse Reneé Rapp is set to wow spectators as she gears up to release her sophomore album Bite Me—but no matter what time you arrive, be sure to stick around for the headlining act. Equipped with a roster of gay anthems including 'One of Your Girls,' 'Stud' and 'Rush', Troye Sivan is certain to deliver an incredible show, providing concert-goers with an opportunity to catch the planet's foremost gay pop star as he headlines the world's most lauded LGBTQ+ music festival. While the World Pride Music Festival is certainly one of the major draws for WorldPride, dedicated partiers have a wealth of other events to enjoy once the headliners have finished their sets. Afterparties abound from Thursday to Sunday, with Friday night offering an opportunity to attend PLANET PRIDE, an EDM-filled function that unites Swedish sensation Galantis with renowned house DJ Joel Corry. Meanwhile, Saturday attendees can keep the party going with SUPER GUAPO, a Brazil-born festival that's making its D.C. debut with resident DJ Anne Louise alongside Spain's Suri. WorldPride 2025 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Washington D.C.'s first official Pride ... More celebration. Washington D.C. has long been recognized as a haven for LGBTQ+ individuals across the United States, and in 2025, the capital is cementing its legacy as a top-tier queer tourism destination with the advent of WorldPride—and to sweeten the deal, the World Pride Music Festival is set to deliver some truly unforgettable performances along the way. Whether you're hoping to catch your favorite drag queen in full glam, spend hours immersed in high-energy EDM or just kick back and bask in the glory of your favorite pop anthems, these two days are certain to leave you with lasting memories of Washington D.C. and the all-encompassing energy and exuberance that unites queer people from across the globe.
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Alan Shearer on the Premier League's US growth: ‘I've seen fans queue for miles'
Alan Shearer was nearly 30 when he experienced for the first and only time something that is now commonplace, and at much younger ages, for most global football stars: Playing in the United States. It was, to say the least, a completely different scene than today. Shearer's Newcastle United, then led by Sir Bobby Robson, played DC United in a friendly at RFK Stadium in July 2000 – a game the local United won 3-1 thanks to goals from Jaime Moreno, Carlos Llamosa, and 'Sneaky' Pete Marino. Shearer, who came on as a second half substitute, recalls the game as 'not too serious,' but it's a moment he looks back on as he considers the remarkable growth in popularity of football in the US in the intervening quarter-century. Particularly, he notes, for the Premier League. 'I've seen them queueing for miles along the block at silly o'clock in the morning, whether that's to look at the Premier League trophy, whether that's to come and meet the ex-players or the people at the football clubs that are that are there or whether it's to watch the games with everyone else,' Shearer says. 'It really is a brilliant atmosphere and I've seen it grow from years ago to what it is now and it's been great to play a small part in that.' These days, Shearer's stateside trips are far more common, as he travels to promote the Premier League's annual Summer Series. The pre-season friendlies rotate through a selection of US cities each year, and this time around they include Manchester United, Bournemouth, West Ham United and Everton playing in Chicago, Atlanta, and the New York/New Jersey area. 'I understand that it's going to be very difficult for it to be the No 1 sport [in the US] and maybe it never will be, but I think from where football was in the 2000s when I went … it is phenomenal, it really is,' Shearer says. 'Sport is something … that brings everyone together. I guess you've got a lot more sports in your country for your people to look at than we have over here, but that hasn't stopped football growing exponentially.' Whereas Newcastle's friendly aginast DC drew about 17,000 to the cavernous RFK Stadium, summer friendlies between European teams of all types have drawn much larger US crowds in recent years. Recent attendance figures for the summer friendlies represent a dip from their heyday in the late-2010s, but many of the largest attendances in the last five years have come from Arsenal – who have finished second in the last two Premier League seasons and are looking for a way to hit another level under Mike Arteta. 'I mean, it doesn't take a genius to work out that every attacking stat in terms of shots, goals, xG, everything for Arsenal in four positions is down from what it was last year when they finished second. Then they finished second again,' Shearer says. 'Whoever's decision it was, whether it was the manager, or whether it was the top brass whose decision was it to go into the season without having a striker, it's cost them dearly because they've never really put up a serious fight to Liverpool. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion 'Is it as simple as buying a striker? It's not as simple as that, but it wouldn't not have helped them if they were to get someone who's going to get them 25 goals. When you look at Erling Haaland, apparently he's had a really poor season. He got 31 goals. And you look at Liverpool with Mo Salah and what he's done in terms of assists and goals, something along the lines of 47 goal involvements. Arsenal never had that.' Assuming they do improve their attacking output, Arsenal will be among an unprecedented nine teams in the Premier League to take part in European competition next season – all of whom Shearer believes have a chance to make a deep run in their respective competitions. Naturally, he believes Newcastle could turn heads in their return to the Champions League. 'Newcastle know that they got to Champions League two years ago, but then really struggled with injuries. Having said that, they got some great results. They sampled what it can be all about,' he says. 'St James' Park is a really tough place to come for anyone. I don't care how good you are, how experienced you are. PSG found that out two years ago when they came to Newcastle and got done, big style.'
