Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says he’s seriously considering closing the company’s Manhattan office following the election of Zohran Mamdani, blasting the incoming mayor as an inexperienced communist who will destroy New York’s business climate.
During a YouTube livestream last week, Portnoy unloaded on the 34-year-old Democratic socialist, who defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the November 4 election.
“I hate the guy,” Portnoy said. “I can’t stand the thought of him running New York City. Thirty-something-year-old Communist running New York City who’s never had a job in his life, hates America — doesn’t seem like the best.”
The Barstool founder, 48, said he has “given a lot of thought” to relocating the company’s New York operations across the Hudson River to Hoboken or Jersey City, New Jersey, to escape what he predicts will be an increasingly hostile business environment under Mamdani.
“I don’t want to f–king have an office [in Manhattan],” Portnoy said. “But then we have all those people who, like, that f–ks up their life because I hate the guy. Like, all the people in the New York office have to go to Jersey City or Hoboken. So it’s a Catch-22.”
Even so, he confirmed that he’s told Barstool’s finance team to start scouting for new office space. “I told our finance guys to start looking around for property, no joke. Take a principled stand,” he said.
Business Leaders React to Mamdani’s Win
Mamdani — who was born in Uganda and currently serves as a New York State Assemblyman — describes himself as a Democratic socialist. His platform included city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and expanded public housing, proposals that critics say could scare off employers and investors.
His victory represents a dramatic shift for New York City, where many in the business community had backed Cuomo, who ran as an independent.
Even before Election Day, Portnoy had warned on Fox Business that Mamdani “hates capitalism” and would “blame the victims of 9/11 rather than the terrorists.”
“It’s a very scary time,” Portnoy said in July. “I can’t believe that this guy may be the mayor of New York City. He’s closer to a Communist.”
Following Mamdani’s projected win, Portnoy posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Thank god I don’t live there anymore.”
Corporate New York Divided
Reaction from the city’s business elite has been mixed. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who clashed with Mamdani online during the campaign, struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone after the results came in.
“Now you have a big responsibility,” Ackman wrote on X. “If I can help NYC, just let me know what I can do.”
Ackman’s message drew criticism from some corporate leaders, including Kathryn Wylde, outgoing CEO of the Partnership for New York City, who accused him of flip-flopping. Still, Wylde said her group was ready to work with Mamdani “to achieve his affordability goals while keeping New York competitive as a destination for talent and a generator of jobs.”
Others were more blunt. Palantir CEO Alex Karp told CNBC, “We’re about to probably have a complete disaster. I was born in New York.”
Barstool’s Future in NYC Uncertain
Barstool Sports, founded by Portnoy in 2003 in Massachusetts, has maintained a major office in Manhattan even after moving much of its operation to Chicago. The company, valued at roughly $600 million as of 2023, employs dozens in its New York office.
Portnoy says his decision will ultimately balance politics and loyalty to his staff.
“If it was just me, I would move the company out of New York City because I hate this guy so much,” he said on another podcast. “But I won’t because there’s a lot of people in New York, and I don’t want to change their lifestyle for it.”
The Mamdani campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment.
READ NEXT: Schumer Changes Tune On Mamdani Following Mayoral Victory
The only chance NYC has is to wake up and find a way to get this communist POS out of your city. Businesses and people are already moving out and this socialist freak won’t have anyone left to tax. Police are leaving for other citys and crime will explode..
TJM – Houston PD is actively recruiting for NYPD officers to come south, with substantial bonuses and incentives. Poaching er um recruiting experienced officers has been fairly common for many years so nothing real new about that. Considering how much it costs to get an individual officer street wise enough – 3-5 years to be really effective, that tactic makes fiscal sense, especially for cities/counties who are experiencing recruiting issues.
Good call & move awesome Yes
Come to the free state of Florida.
Considering how the jersey governor’s election turned out he might need to go a lot further than that, not sure how far though.
Get out of NY City, but for goodness sake not Chicago, it will be going the same way, make it PA or Ohio or Indiana.
Why?
The professional teams players kneel when the National Anthem is played.
The New York City fans BOOED the President.
Illegal aliens are protected by the Government.