LANDOVER, Md. (DC News Now) — The Washington Commanders are embracing the Halloween spirit this year – the team invited Cora Rice Elementary and Gholson Middle School from Prince George’s County to Northwest Stadium on Thursday.
The Commanders turned the football venue into a full-on trick-or-treating delight for the kids.
Suites were converted into mini stations filled with candy and decor fit for Halloween. This is the first year the team has held something like this for the holiday.
Commanders limited partner Mark Ein and Northwest Federal Credit Union CEO Jeff Bentley both were in attendance Thursday.
Ein is native to Maryland and grew up a Commanders fan with owner Josh Harris. He said hosting events like this brings him back to his younger days.
“Josh and I grew up in Chevy Chase together, and I remember a lot of us in elementary school wearing costumes from the team back then,” he recalled. “Here we are many, many years later, again wearing the uniform of the team.”
Ein continued saying he’s been extremely excited about the growing support around the community.
“You’re seeing it. It’s just how proud people are again of this franchise, how excited they are, how it’s bringing people back together,” he said.
Northwest CEO Jeff Bentley also was excited to host the event. Northwest is in their first NFL season with the Commanders, and it’s been a loud start with the team performing the way that they are.
Outside of just football, Bentley also sees a huge opportunity with the partnership.
“The reason our partnership worked so well is because it mirrors kind of what the Commanders is all about,” he said. “It’s just a wonderful partnership that we can collectively do so much more together.”
