FedEx Field in Landover could be a prime spot for redevelopment if the Washington Redskins, whose name will be changing soon, move out of Maryland. Their lease runs until 2027. Photo by Andrew J. Scott
When Daniel M. Snyder announced on Monday that his team, the Washington Redskins, will abandon the name it has used since 1933, it set several wheels in motion — including the possibility that the franchise could be leaving Maryland sooner rather than later.
No new name was announced. Nor is it clear whether the change — said to be dependent on copyright issues — will occur in time for the 2020 season.
The statement the club released made no mention of the pressure Snyder was under — from FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and other corporate sponsors — to drop a name that critics had long charged is an affront to Native Americans.
Though the Washington football team is under contract to play in Prince George’s County until 2027, Snyder’s decision makes it more likely that the club will leave Maryland, perhaps before its lease expires.
