Dave Portnoy threatens to pull Barstool
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has announced he is considering closing the company’s Manhattan office. This potential move is a direct response to the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s new mayor.
Portnoy strongly criticized the newly elected mayor during a livestream. He labeled the 34-year-old Mamdani a “Communist” who will “wreck the business climate” for companies in the city.
Expressing his personal disdain, Portnoy stated, “I hate the guy.” He further disparaged Mamdani as a “thirty-something-year-old Communist running New York City who’s never had a job in his life, hates America.”
The Barstool founder has taken concrete steps toward a possible relocation. He revealed that he has instructed his finance team to begin searching for new office space in Hoboken or Jersey City.
Portnoy acknowledged the difficulty of such a decision, admitting he is hesitant to disrupt the lives of his employees. He confirmed that he has “given it a lot of thought” but feels compelled to act.
Mamdani’s election represents a significant political shift for the city. His platform, which included policies like rent freezes and expanding public housing, signals a leftward turn in New York City politics.
Portnoy, whose company is valued at approximately $600 million, framed the potential move as a matter of principle. He suggested he might relocate Barstool specifically “to take a principled stand” against the new administration.
