Best of The ROAR Podcast: Kirtan Mehta

<p>We’re resurfacing one of our favorite conversations this week. Kirtan Mehta, Chief External Affairs Officer for the Washington Commanders, joined Caroline Valvardi for a clear-eyed look at one of the most complex real estate projects in American sports — and it’s only gotten more relevant as the RFK project moves forward.</p><p>From Harvard Law to two U.S. Senate offices to an early stint at Robinhood, Kirtan brings a government-relations lens you rarely hear in sports business. The conversation covers aligning owners, fans, and three separate jurisdictions; the case for building a neighborhood rather than just a stadium; how data and AI are being deployed from construction phasing to fan experience; and the leadership ethos the franchise calls the Commander Standard.</p><p>If you missed it the first time, this is the one to start with. </p><p>00:00 Best of — intro</p><p>00:31 An unlikely path: math, mock trial, law, and politics</p><p>03:02 What Capitol Hill experience brings — politics as "a sport of addition"</p><p>04:52 Finding intersection among diverse stakeholders</p><p>06:04 Translating between groups — the 11–2 DC Council vote</p><p>07:49 Why listening is the underrated skill in public affairs</p><p>11:46 Three jurisdictions and the federal-land overlay of the RFK site</p><p>14:42 Building a real estate team for a real estate project </p><p>17:12 Legislative timelines and the 2030 / 2031 World Cup deadlines</p><p>20:05 The $2.7B case: housing, environment, and a food desert</p><p>21:40 The Nationals ballpark as the blueprint everyone points to</p><p>24:23 Partnering with the city — and the mayor's role</p><p>26:57 Data &amp; AI: Voice of Fans, the team's RFI, and a roofed stadium</p><p>30:51 Experiential design inside and outside the stadium</p><p>34:25 The transportation puzzle: Metro, tunnels, and a river</p><p>36:09 What drives him: service, joy, and a product you believe in</p><p>38:56 Leadership and the Commander Standard — the five C's</p><p>41:15 Close</p><p><br /></p>