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Barstool Sports
Barstool Sports is an American blog and digital media company founded in 2003 by Dave Portnoy, which grew from a free Boston-area print sports paper into a nationally recognized brand centered on sports journalism, pop culture, and personality-driven content. It became especially influential through its podcasts (such as Pardon My Take), social media presence, and loyal fanbase of 'Stoolies,' while also expanding into merchandise, live events, food and beverage brands, and sports betting partnerships. Barstool Sports also owns and operates a sports blog, Old Row, and an amateur boxing contest, Rough N Rowdy.
Over the years, Barstool has attracted major investments (notably from The Chernin Group and Penn Entertainment), reached valuations in the hundreds of millions, and secured high-profile media deals with companies like Fox Sports and Netflix. At the same time, it has frequently been embroiled in controversy over offensive content, workplace culture, and the behavior of its personalities. Despite this, Barstool remains a major force in modern sports and entertainment media, with Portnoy regaining ownership in 2023 and continuing to steer its direction.
Barstool began in 2003 as a weekly print publication distributed for free at transit stops in the Boston metropolitan area that offered gambling advertisements and fantasy sports projections but later expanded to encompass other topics. It launched on the Internet in 2007. The site was headquartered in Milton, Massachusetts, identifiable with a cardboard sign with the site's name written in ballpoint pen.
Portnoy hired Kevin Clancy in 2009 and launched Barstool New York, the blog's first major move outside the Boston area. Barstool ceased publication of the print version in 2010 and transitioned to a web-only model.
In August 2011, the site received criticism over nude photos of American football quarterback Tom Brady's two-year-old son, which was accompanied by comments saying the child had a "howitzer", which a former prosecutor suggested was sexualization of a minor. Portnoy argued that the comments were meant to be humorous in tone and were not intended to be seen as sexual.
The satirical nature of the site means that some comments have sparked debate, including a post on a 2010 blog in which Portnoy said, "Even though I never condone rape if you're a size 6 and you're wearing skinny jeans you kind of deserve to be raped right?"
Other elements that have received criticism as college humour gone too far include comments such as "we don't condone rape of any kind at our Blackout Parties ... however if a chick passes out that's a gray area". Portnoy, in response, has stated that, "...It's not our intent, with jokes, to poke fun at rape victims," while pointing out the satirical nature of the site's content. A Northeastern University protest group called Knockout Barstool held a demonstration outside of a 2012 Blackout party at Boston's House of Blues. Portnoy has been openly dismissive of the protest group, referring to them as "serial protesters", "nutbags" and "crazy bitches".
By 2013, Barstool Sports had expanded to five cities, including Philadelphia and Chicago, with a university-focused BarstoolU brand. Each franchise had its own editorial staff and voice and operated autonomously from the main Barstool Sports blog. The blogger team published around 70 to 80 posts each weekday. According to Entrepreneur.com in December 2013, more than four million unique users visited Barstool monthly, with over 80 million page views.
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Barstool Sports
Barstool Sports is an American blog and digital media company founded in 2003 by Dave Portnoy, which grew from a free Boston-area print sports paper into a nationally recognized brand centered on sports journalism, pop culture, and personality-driven content. It became especially influential through its podcasts (such as Pardon My Take), social media presence, and loyal fanbase of 'Stoolies,' while also expanding into merchandise, live events, food and beverage brands, and sports betting partnerships. Barstool Sports also owns and operates a sports blog, Old Row, and an amateur boxing contest, Rough N Rowdy.
Over the years, Barstool has attracted major investments (notably from The Chernin Group and Penn Entertainment), reached valuations in the hundreds of millions, and secured high-profile media deals with companies like Fox Sports and Netflix. At the same time, it has frequently been embroiled in controversy over offensive content, workplace culture, and the behavior of its personalities. Despite this, Barstool remains a major force in modern sports and entertainment media, with Portnoy regaining ownership in 2023 and continuing to steer its direction.
Barstool began in 2003 as a weekly print publication distributed for free at transit stops in the Boston metropolitan area that offered gambling advertisements and fantasy sports projections but later expanded to encompass other topics. It launched on the Internet in 2007. The site was headquartered in Milton, Massachusetts, identifiable with a cardboard sign with the site's name written in ballpoint pen.
Portnoy hired Kevin Clancy in 2009 and launched Barstool New York, the blog's first major move outside the Boston area. Barstool ceased publication of the print version in 2010 and transitioned to a web-only model.
In August 2011, the site received criticism over nude photos of American football quarterback Tom Brady's two-year-old son, which was accompanied by comments saying the child had a "howitzer", which a former prosecutor suggested was sexualization of a minor. Portnoy argued that the comments were meant to be humorous in tone and were not intended to be seen as sexual.
The satirical nature of the site means that some comments have sparked debate, including a post on a 2010 blog in which Portnoy said, "Even though I never condone rape if you're a size 6 and you're wearing skinny jeans you kind of deserve to be raped right?"
Other elements that have received criticism as college humour gone too far include comments such as "we don't condone rape of any kind at our Blackout Parties ... however if a chick passes out that's a gray area". Portnoy, in response, has stated that, "...It's not our intent, with jokes, to poke fun at rape victims," while pointing out the satirical nature of the site's content. A Northeastern University protest group called Knockout Barstool held a demonstration outside of a 2012 Blackout party at Boston's House of Blues. Portnoy has been openly dismissive of the protest group, referring to them as "serial protesters", "nutbags" and "crazy bitches".
By 2013, Barstool Sports had expanded to five cities, including Philadelphia and Chicago, with a university-focused BarstoolU brand. Each franchise had its own editorial staff and voice and operated autonomously from the main Barstool Sports blog. The blogger team published around 70 to 80 posts each weekday. According to Entrepreneur.com in December 2013, more than four million unique users visited Barstool monthly, with over 80 million page views.