Dave Portnoy Slams Mamdani’s Victory, Threatens to Pull Barstool Sports Out of New York City
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has sparked fresh controversy by threatening to shutter the company’s Manhattan office following the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor—a move that has reignited debate over the intersection of politics, business, and the city’s economic future.
Portnoy, 48, who transformed Barstool from a sports blog into a multimillion-dollar media empire over two decades, unloaded on Mamdani during a recent YouTube livestream. He labeled the 34-year-old Democratic socialist a “Communist” and warned that his administration could “wreck the business climate” in the city, driving out employers and stifling private enterprise.
“This guy hates America, hates capitalism, and has never had a real job,” Portnoy said bluntly. “Doesn’t seem like the best person to run a city like this.”
He revealed that he’s already directed Barstool’s finance team to “start looking around for property” outside Manhattan, mentioning Hoboken and Jersey City as possible relocation sites. While acknowledging that such a move would upend the lives of long-time employees, Portnoy suggested it might be unavoidable if Mamdani’s policies take hold.
Portnoy’s disdain for the mayor-elect is not new. Over the summer, he appeared on Fox Business warning that Mamdani “hates capitalism” and is “closer to a Communist than a mainstream Democrat.” His remarks came amid growing national concerns about how progressive agendas in major cities could reshape local economies.
When election networks projected Mamdani’s victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Portnoy posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Thank God I don’t live there anymore,” reflecting both relief and unease over the city’s political trajectory.
Other business leaders have voiced similar apprehensions. Palantir CEO Alex Karp told CNBC that New York City risks “a complete disaster” if Mamdani follows through on his proposed reforms. Critics fear that measures like rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, and expanded public housing could drive up taxes, increase regulation, and discourage private investment.
Mamdani’s supporters, however, see his win as a defining moment—a chance to address the city’s widening wealth gap and unaffordable cost of living. Born in Uganda and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Mamdani has positioned his platform as a pragmatic response to systemic inequality, promising affordable housing, lower living costs, and expanded public services in underserved areas.
To supporters, his policies are long overdue in a city where working-class families have been priced out. To critics like Portnoy, they represent a dangerous experiment in economic overreach.
Portnoy has characterized Barstool’s potential relocation as both a “principled stand” and a personal rejection of what he calls “radical leftist governance.” Yet he’s also conceded that the decision could severely disrupt employees’ lives, underscoring a conflict between ideology and practicality that many business owners face when political tides shift.
Reaction to Portnoy’s comments has been divided. Supporters praised his willingness to challenge policies they believe will stifle business innovation, while detractors accused him of using inflammatory rhetoric and disregarding the livelihoods of his own staff.
Media analysts note that Portnoy’s blunt, confrontational style is consistent with his brand—a mix of sports, business, and unfiltered cultural commentary that routinely stirs public debate. His remarks have since gained traction on national platforms, fueling a wider conversation about how political leadership shapes urban economies and corporate decision-making.
Meanwhile, Mamdani’s backers remain optimistic, arguing that businesses have always adapted to New York’s shifting political climates. They contend that long-term stability, equity, and community investment could strengthen—not weaken—the city’s foundation.
Still, Portnoy’s warning underscores a growing rift between entrepreneurs and progressive policymakers in America’s largest cities. As urban centers experiment with ambitious social reforms, business leaders are increasingly forced to weigh whether to stay, adapt, or leave.
For Barstool Sports, the decision carries symbolic weight. A move out of Manhattan could signal broader corporate disillusionment with New York’s direction under Mamdani—and possibly embolden other companies to follow suit.
Ultimately, Portnoy’s outrage is about more than one mayoral election. It encapsulates a deeper ideological clash between capitalism and social reform, between private enterprise and public policy, and between two competing visions of what America’s largest city should be.
Whether Barstool stays or goes, one thing is certain: New York’s political and economic identity is once again at the center of a fierce national conversation.
