Upcoming Washington Commanders dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Where a Commanders ticket buys the most
For most fans, the smartest Commanders seat at Northwest Stadium is along the sideline, inside the 20s, in the 200 level or the club level. You get enough height to see plays develop, and the club seats add padded chairs and indoor, air-conditioned lounges. Low rows behind the end zones and the upper corners are the seats to think twice about.
The stadium sits in Landover, Maryland, in Prince George's County, roughly two and a half miles outside the D.C. border, and has room for about 64,000. August brings the preseason; the regular schedule starts in September and wraps up in early January. A replacement is planned inside the city on the old RFK grounds, with 2030 as the opening goal.
Four seating rings and how they differ
The stadium has four main rings, each numbered by its first digit.
- 100 level (sections 101–142): the rows nearest the grass. Sideline rows here are excellent; low end-zone rows put you on top of one goal line and far from the other.
- 200 level (sections 201–242): a step up, with a better angle on the whole field. Sideline seats here are some of the best value in the building.
- Club level (sections 301–342): cushioned chairs plus entry to enclosed, climate-controlled lounges. Worth it on hot September afternoons and cold December nights.
- Upper level (400s): the least expensive seats. Sideline rows are fine for following the game; the corners feel remote.
There is no roof here, and outdoor club rows get almost no protection from above, so a rainy forecast means packing a poncho. Published sources do not pin down which bench sits on which side, and that can vary; if you care about being behind Washington's bench, look at the chart for your game.
A smaller bowl than it used to be
Fans first walked in on September 14, 1997, when the place was named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. The FedExField name ran from 1999 to 2024, and Northwest Stadium replaced it in August 2024. Capacity once topped 91,000; during the 2010s the team tore out big chunks of the upper deck. Capacity had dropped to about 62,000 by 2022, and roughly 1,500 seats were restored in 2025.
For buyers, the smaller bowl means fewer distant seats than the stadium once had. It also means home games against popular opponents can feel tighter on supply than the stadium's history might suggest.
NFC East dates and the rest of the schedule
Washington hosts eight or nine regular-season games a year. Here is where competition for seats runs highest:
- Dallas: the rivalry that defines the franchise. Cowboys fans travel in big numbers, so this is usually the most sought-after home date.
- Philadelphia and New York: Eagles and Giants fans can drive or take the train, and they can fill a large part of the stadium.
- Night games: any prime-time slot brings a national TV audience and more buyers.
- December games with stakes: when a late-season game affects the standings, demand climbs quickly.
Preseason games and early non-division matchups against teams with small traveling followings are the easiest to buy. On days when road fans flood the market, buying next to fellow burgundy-and-gold fans makes the game more enjoyable.
Morgan Boulevard, the lots and entry
The nearest rail stop is Morgan Boulevard, served by Metro's Blue and Silver trains. Plan on a one-mile walk, around 20 minutes. The stadium's latest transit guidance lists no routine shuttle bus, but MetroAccess paratransit can drop riders at Gates A and E. When an event runs late, you can board only at Morgan Boulevard or Downtown Largo.
Most fans drive. The stadium's tailgating policy says:
- Lot hours: gates to the lots swing open four hours ahead of the event, or five for RedZone A, and shut two hours after the finish. Prepay for your spot.
- Grills: allowed, but put out the flames before you head inside. Tailgating ends at kickoff.
- Passes: each passenger must hold either a ticket to the game or a parking pass.
- Rideshare: drivers are routed to the Rideshare/RedZone Lot off Harvey Drive and Sheriff Road; postgame pickups can be slow.
At the gate, you may carry one transparent bag no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a clear one-gallon freezer bag, or a palm-size clutch of roughly 4.5 by 6.5 inches. These rules shift between seasons; confirm them on the stadium's transit page and entry policy before you go. Reserved Seat backs every order with a 100% guarantee.
Back to RFK: the planned stadium
A deal to bring the team back to the city was unveiled on April 28, 2025, by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Commissioner Roger Goodell and owner Josh Harris. The site is the old RFK Stadium grounds, home to the franchise for 36 seasons. Council members gave a first vote of approval in August 2025 and a final one that September. The reported terms:
- Budget: a total near 3.8 billion dollars; the team pays roughly 2.7 billion, and the District puts in around 1.06 billion for roads, utilities and a garage.
- Size: roughly 65,000 seats with standing space for around 5,000 more.
- Build: HKS is the architect, with natural grass under a translucent roof.
- Schedule: construction to start in early 2027, with the first season there targeted for 2030.
No name has been announced, and housing, shops, hotels and parkland are planned around it. Landover remains home in the meantime, and the current stadium is slated for demolition once the team leaves. Large projects often slip, so treat 2030 as a target.
Boston Braves to burgundy and gold champions
Founded in Boston on July 9, 1932, the club started out as the Braves, switched to Redskins a year later and relocated to Washington for the 1937 season. That name lasted through 2019; the placeholder Washington Football Team covered 2020 and 2021, and the Commanders name arrived in 2022. Josh Harris and his partners took ownership in May 2023.
Griffith Stadium hosted the team for its first 24 Washington seasons, then RFK took over for 36 years. Nearly all the hardware came home to RFK, so going back there carries real emotional weight for older fans:
- NFL titles: 1937, in year one in the capital, and again in 1942.
- Super Bowls: three in a ten-year span, XVII (1982 season), XXII (1987) and XXVI (1991).
- The Hogs: the blockers who powered those teams, still celebrated by the fan base.
In the NFC East, Washington's rivalries with Dallas, New York and Philadelphia go back decades. The fight song is Hail to the Commanders. Team news is at commanders.com.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best-value seats for a Commanders game?
Sideline seats between the 20-yard lines in the 200 level or the club level. They give a full view of the field, and the club adds indoor, air-conditioned lounges.
Is Northwest Stadium covered?
No. It is open to the sky, and club rows outside the enclosed lounges get almost no overhead protection, so pack rain gear when showers are forecast.
Is there a shuttle from Morgan Boulevard station to the stadium?
Recent stadium guidance lists no routine shuttle. Expect to walk roughly a mile, about 20 minutes; MetroAccess paratransit riders can be dropped at Gates A and E.
Was Northwest Stadium called FedExField?
Yes. Its first name was Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in 1997, then FedExField for 25 years, and Northwest Stadium since August 2024.
When is the new Commanders stadium supposed to open?
Reports following the September 2025 council vote put construction starting in early 2027 and the first season in 2030. Big projects often slip.
What time do the parking lots open for Commanders games?
Per the tailgating policy, most lots open four hours ahead and RedZone A opens five hours ahead. Tailgates have to wrap up by kickoff.