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WAS - February 21, 2007
 

Stadium Review - The Stadium Tour 
In April of 2009, I found myself in Washington D.C. for a couple days. As any good Quester knows, several NFL stadiums throughout the league offer NFL stadium tours during the offseason to quench the thirst of those who long for NFL play to resume. The last time I was in town, FedExField, the Washington Redskins Stadium, didn’t have a stadium tour program, but recently their marketing department began offering tours for groups of twenty or more with an advance reservation. Since the Stadium tour at FedExField is in its infancy, I was told they plan to start slow with stadium tours for larger groups, then as demand increases, they’ll consider expanding to walk-up tours which can accommodate smaller groups. In any case, they offered to give me a sneak peak at what their stadium tour is like and I’m happy to report that they have the makings of a solid program that fans of the Washington Redskins will be anxious to experience for themselves.

Right off, as a pro football fan, you have to be envious of the Washington Redskins organization and their obvious commitment to winning in the National Football League. Owner Dan Snyder is notorious for his willingness to open his pocketbook in the interest of the franchise and therefore it was no great shock that Snyder’s commitment to excellence extends to the home of the Washington Redskins as well. FedExField is an incredible facility with seating to accommodate up to 92,000 fans, several of the luxury boxes that make today’s modern football venue extremely profitable, and a more than impressive club level that boasts some of the most unique facilities in the league. The stadium tour begins at the Joe Gibbs Club Level, which was actually an add-on to FedExField, build by Dan Snyder when he took over the team. A full section of seating, running the circumference of the stadium, was dedicated to the new club level as the original open-air concourse that fed these seating areas was enclosed to protect fans and the incredible amenities it contains from the elements. Marble floors adorn wide open concourses that host an amazing array of fan-friendly amenities, including full-sized oak bars, concourse seating areas with leather furniture, and a more than adequate array of flatscreen TV’s to allow fans to follow the action down on the field. Concessions are top notch, as fans will find several restaurant chains scattered throughout the concourse amidst standard dogs, brats, burgers, and beer. Walking the circumference of the Club Level, fans will find a fully staffed, onsite Hooters and a Macanudo Cigar Bar, both firsts for an NFL venue and sure to attract a fan following of their own over the course the year.  Dan Snyder really hits a home run with these.

On gameday, the Owner’s Club East and Owner’s Club West boast luxury facilities that are elegantly adorned with hardwood trim and marble flooring. Private full-sized bar areas remain fully stocked throughout the day and offer billiards tables and a catered meal to round out the gameday experience. Both areas are heavily guarded with a dedicated security task force to maintain exclusivity.

After a look at the Club Level and Luxury Box area, participants of the Stadium Tour are treated to a behind the scenes look at gameday in FedExField, starting with a sneak peak at the Washington Redskins Cheerleader Dance Studio. The Redskins Cheerleaders have an onsite practice facility including wall to wall mirrors and a wooden dance floor to accommodate the 30 member squad. All routines are meticulously choreographed and perfected in the Dance Studio before the cheerleaders hit the field on gameday and visitors on the tour can take photos with cheer leader cutouts if interested (I couldn’t help myself). A look at the Washington Redskins locker room is next, which was equally impressive. Visitors have free reign to roam the locker room area and take photos next to their favorite player’s locker. It was also refreshing to see the locker of the late Sean Taylor, still setup with his gameday equipment and sealed behind a plexiglass barrier. The memorial was setup last season as coaches and players remember this supremely talented young man who was taken from us far too early.

The FedExField Stadium Tour concludes with a visit to the natural grass field situated two stories below ground level. Depending on the time of year, visitors may or may not be able to test the 419 Tifway Bermuda grass, which is the featured playing surface at FedEx Field. Natural grass is generally preferred by the players as it remains cooler than synthetic surfaces in the hot summer months and provides adequate give when cleats stick into the ground on route running and cutting maneuvers, which generally helps to prevent injuries. The field surface is resodded each year and maintained at a constant 70-degree temperature throughout the year by underground thermal heating elements. The grass field takes 300 gallons of paint to mark and stripe in preparation for gameday and irrigation is provided by underground sprinkler heads.

Judging by what I saw throughout my sneak peak of the FedExField Stadium tour, it appears they’re offering a tour that will fascinate fans and provide plenty of photo opportunities. It was clear there’s a community focus on the part of the Redskins organization with a desire to involve fans through Redskins charity events, stadium tours, and free events like the Draft Day Party they were preparing for when I visited. I’m very encouraged by what I saw at FedExField and look forward to attending the stadium tour again at a later date. If you’re interested in setting up your own stadium tour of FedExField, see below for Stadium Tour information on this page.
 

Washington Redskins
 2009 NFL Schedule

    1 Sun, 13-Sep at NY Giants 4:15 PM
    2 Sun, 20-Sep St. Louis 1:00 PM
    3 Sun, 27-Sep at Detroit 1:00 PM
    4 Sun, 4-Oct Tampa Bay 1:00 PM
    5 Sun, 11-Oct at Carolina 1:00 PM
    6 Sun, 18-Oct Kansas City 1:00 PM
    7 Mon, 26-Oct Philadelphia 8:30 PM
    8 Sun, 1-Nov, Bye
    9 Sun, 8-Nov at Atlanta 1:00 PM
    10 Sun, 15-Nov Denver 1:00 PM
    11 Sun, 22-Nov at Dallas 1:00 PM
    12 Sun, 29-Nov at Philadelphia 1:00 PM
    13 Sun, 6-Dec New Orleans 1:00 PM
    14 Sun, 13-Dec at Oakland 4:05 PM
    15 Mon, 21-Dec NY Giants 8:30 PM
    16 Sun, 27-Dec Dallas 8:20 PM
    17 Sun, 3-Jan at San Diego 4:15 PM

Coming Soon ...