Best of The ROAR Podcast: Kirtan Mehta

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. 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. If you missed it the first time, this is the one to start with.  00:00 Best of — intro 00:31 An unlikely path: math, mock trial, law, and politics 03:02 What Capitol Hill experience brings — politics as "a sport of addition" 04:52 Finding intersection among diverse stakeholders 06:04 Translating between groups — the 11–2 DC Council vote 07:49 Why listening is the underrated skill in public affairs 11:46 Three jurisdictions and the federal-land overlay of the RFK site 14:42 Building a real estate team for a real estate project 17:12 Legislative timelines and the 2030 / 2031 World Cup deadlines 20:05 The $2.7B case: housing, environment, and a food desert 21:40 The Nationals ballpark as the blueprint everyone points to 24:23 Partnering with the city — and the mayor's role 26:57 Data & AI: Voice of Fans, the team's RFI, and a roofed stadium 30:51 Experiential design inside and outside the stadium 34:25 The transportation puzzle: Metro, tunnels, and a river 36:09 What drives him: service, joy, and a product you believe in 38:56 Leadership and the Commander Standard — the five C's 41:15 Close