Located on a 200-acre site, the stadium is the largest in the NFL, by a large margin (more than 11,000 seats
over the next biggest – Giants Stadium). Construction began on the privately financed, $250 million facility
in March 1996; it was completed in a record 17 months. In 1997, $30 million was spent to create a 170,000 square-foot
atrium encircling the entire stadium, making the Joe Gibbs Club Level a major addition. Since purchasing the team
in July 1999, Daniel M. Snyder has doled out more than $100 million to enhance FedExField, including the addition
of escalators, an Owner's Club Suite Level, a radiant heating system on the loge level, and more seats on the upper,
lower and loge levels. Located in the upper deck is the Redskins' Ring of Fame, with plaques honoring the team's
greatest players and executives, including George Allen, Sammy Baugh, Joe Gibbs, Vince Lombardi, Sam Huff, Joe Jacoby,
Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Doug Williams, Art Monk, John Riggins and Joe Theismann. The first national
anthem at the facility was sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
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