WASHINGTON, D.C. — Riding high off their triumphant United League Championship, the Washington Senators scored another major victory this weekend: securing the future of baseball in the nation’s capital with a $250 million renovation agreement to convert Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium into a baseball-only facility.
The sweeping deal, finalized late Saturday night, was brokered by Senators team president Alex Cumana and Mayor Marion Barry after weeks of negotiation. With the Washington Redskins set to vacate RFK for a new football-specific stadium in Landover, the opportunity was ripe for the Senators to reimagine the venerable stadium as a modern cathedral for baseball.
“RFK has been a symbol of this city’s sports history,” said Cumana at a press conference outside City Hall Sunday morning. “Now it’s going to be the cornerstone of our baseball team.”
For Mayor Barry, the project symbolizes more than just economic revitalization. “This isn’t just about baseball. It’s about pride in our city and belief in what we can build together,” he said. “Washington deserves a first-class team in a first-class stadium.”
The team’s success on the field has been matched by aggressive front-office strategy. Under Cumana’s leadership, the Senators have stockpiled eight first-round picks over the next three Doubleday drafts, including multiple selections in the upcoming December 1995 class. The front office is expected to focus on international and prep talent, with recent top prospect visits — including Dominican teenage slugger Vladimir Guerrero — signaling their intent to build for sustained contention.
As the Senators prepare to chase postseason glory and shape their future through the draft, the RFK deal stands as both a commitment and a statement. Baseball is not only back in Washington — it’s here to stay.