Washington’s NFL team may have a new person in charge of the search for a new stadium.
Owner Daniel Snyder hired former National Football League executive Brian Lafemina to the new role of president of business operations and chief operating officer. Lafemina will oversee all business related to the team and report directly to Snyder, according to a team release sent out Wednesday.
NFL insiders told The Washington Post they expect Lafemina to play an integral role in the team’s pursuit of a new stadium. In his previous role with the league, Lafemina oversaw development and circulation of business practices, from game-day fan satisfaction to sponsorships to media revenue. He also played a lead role in leaguewide initiatives on stadium development and ticket sales.
Pro Football Talk suggested the hire, and the fact Lafemina will report directly to Snyder, undermines the power of Team President Bruce Allen. If Allen were performing well in all facets of his job, a COO would not be needed, Pro Football Talk implied.
Lafemina said in a statement that Snyder had been courting him for a job with the team for about a year. In that same statement, Lafemina said working with “Dan and Bruce to develop a new dynamic stadium that matches the vibrancy of this organization and its fan base will be an exciting challenge and one of our top priorities.”
