Starting next season, Washington Football Team (WFT) fans will no longer see a traditional NFL cheerleading squad on the field, instead, they will be entertained by a coed dance group.
The franchise is removing its cheerleaders from the field after 50 years as part of its rebranding effort, which include dropping Redskins, and a re-imagined approach to fan engagement and game day experience, according to a news release. The team has hired, Petra Pope, who has a background in NBA entertainment, to be the new senior adviser for the team’s game day experience. Pope told ESPN that the WFT wants to create a « more modern franchise » focused on diversity and inclusion.
