Joe Rafanelli joined Old Dominion University in July 2023 as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation & External Operations. In this role, he leads the department’s revenue growth strategy, overseeing ticketing, marketing, fan experience, multimedia rights, licensing and business development initiatives to enhance engagement and financial success for ODU Athletics.
Since joining the Monarchs, Rafanelli has spearheaded innovative revenue strategies, including record-setting attendance and revenue growth for ODU Football, the expansion of premium fan experiences, and the introduction of new revenue streams such as tailgating, and hospitality.
Prior to ODU, Rafanelli served as Assistant AD for Ticketing & Data Analytics at Rutgers University, where he oversaw all ticketing operations, pricing strategies, and fan engagement efforts. Under his leadership, Rutgers set multiple season ticket records in football and men’s basketball, achieving the nation’s fourth-highest five-year average attendance increase in football and consecutive seasons of sold-out basketball.
His career also includes leadership roles with IMG Learfield Ticket Solutions (now Learfield Amplify), where he managed revenue growth efforts for Rutgers and Temple, earning national recognition for ticket sales and fan engagement strategies.
A native of Exeter, Rhode Island, Rafanelli earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Arcadia University and an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall University. He and his wife, Jackie, reside in Norfolk, Virginia.