When the Washington Football Team welcomes fans back to FedEx Field this season, Native American-inspired headdresses and face paint will be prohibited.
The team, which issued its 2021 stadium policies and protocols on Wednesday, announced in the spring that it intends to be at full capacity for games this year, after a 2020 season in which Washington’s home games were played either without fans or with very few fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the last time FedEx Field was open to all fans, the team had a different name. As part of its rebranding, the team has made a clean break from Native American imagery, and has even ruled out Warriors as a candidate for its new name, which is set to be revealed in early 2022.
“We recognize that not everyone is in favor of this change,” team president Jason Wright said in July. “And even the Native American community offers a range of opinions about both our past and path forward. But in these moments, it is important to prioritize the views of those who have been hurt by our historical use of Native American language, iconography and imagery.
As part of its updated protocols, the team is also recommending but not mandating the use of face masks inside the stadium for unvaccinated guests.
