The CEO of Barstool Sports, Erika Ayers Badan, has confirmed that she is leaving the sports media company. Her departure from the company was revealed via the New York Post and through a tweet in which she mentioned that she was leaving the company.
The video also reveals Ayers Badan discussing her sentiments about leaving her current position. She also reveals that she is "so proud" of the decision that she took. According to the Street Ayers Badan shares in her video, "I"m stepping down as the CEO of Barstool — I feel super sad about it. It"s been a wild run. I"m so grateful … What we made of [Barstool] exceeded my wildest expectations."
Barstool was acquired by The Chernin Group in 2016 and Ayers Badan joined the organisation in the same year. Ayers Badan and the owner, David Portnoy, led the organisation to tremendous success, which included a sale to PENN Entertainment for $500 million.
The sale began four years ago and was finalized in February 2023. Portnoy once again purchased the company for $1 in August after PENN and ESPN reached an agreement on Barstool Sportsbook, which, after rebranding, is now known as ESPN Bet.
Ayers Badan further in the video cited the expansion of the company and sales, which became significant after she joined the organization, as some factors that led to her departure. She also acknowledged and felicitated the owner, Portnoy for the opportunity he gave her. She further shares that he will continue to be in charge.
She mentions, "Growing a company 5,000% in revenue over eight years is awesome feel like the work I came here to do is done. Everything I could have ever imagined and wanted to achieve, we did."
"I feel so good about Dave. I trusted him, and I still trust him, and he"s the right person to make this a pirate ship. And I think we went around the sun a bunch, and now it"s back exactly where it should be as it should be."
Only correction is everybody wanted the job. We just didn't like anybody except her. There is no doubt @erika_ was the perfect and probably only fit for us. It's been quite a run and we couldn't have done it without her. She was everything I dreamed she'd be and more in a CEO https://t.co/pneTTvtDGF pic.twitter.com/S9L14TTshi
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 16, 2024
In response to Ayers Badan, the owner also made corrections to her statement, which stated that she was surprised that she was selected out of “70 candidates" in 2016. She also mentioned that she thought she was the only one who was interested in the position that was being offered. The owner, however, ensured that she knew the real reason.
Portnoy mentioned in his post, "Only correction is everybody wanted the job. We just didn"t like anybody except her. There is no doubt @erika_ was the perfect and probably only fit for us. It"s been quite a run and we couldn"t have done it without her. She was everything I dreamed she"d be and more in a CEO."
