Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has revealed that his current contract with parent company Penn Entertainment is set to expire in 20 months, and he is unsure whether it will be renewed. Penn Entertainment completed their acquisition of Barstool earlier this year, paying $551 million to acquire the company from Chernin Group. The topic of Portnoy’s contract came up during an interview on The Kirk Minihane Show, where Portnoy also discussed the departure of Dan Katz and the opening of Barstool’s office in Chicago.
Portnoy founded Barstool Sports in 2003 as a free-to-print tabloid for transit commuters in Boston and eventually joined Penn to develop an online sportsbook. The company has since grown into a vast national digital media empire, but Portnoy has had disagreements with Penn CEO Jay Snowden in the past, such as when they disagreed over firing host Ben Mintz for rapping racial slurs on a live stream.
If Portnoy were to leave at the end of his contract, it could affect the cost and benefits of Barstool for state gaming regulators. Barstool Sportsbook was licensed in Massachusetts earlier this year, but the platform is not yet licensed in New York, although most states where sports betting is legal have eventually licensed the brand’s sportsbooks.
During the interview on The Kirk Minihane Show, Portnoy discussed his future plans, which include potential podcast ideas and film projects. Although he dismissed the idea of starting a completely new medium for his business, he is exploring new options and ideas.
In conclusion, Dave Portnoy’s contract with Barstool Sports is set to expire in 20 months, and it is unclear whether it will be renewed by parent company Penn Entertainment. Despite potential disagreements with Penn CEO Jay Snowden in the past, Barstool Sports has continued to grow and expand, with Portnoy exploring options for new projects in the future.