A recent era is looming at Barstool Sports.
The Post has learned that Erika Ayers Badan is leaving her role as CEO.
Ayers Badan (formerly Nardini), 48, began at Barstool in 2016, shortly after it was acquired by The Chernin Group at a valuation of $15 million, leading the corporate through enormous personnel, revenue and relevance expansion that saw it acquired by PENN Entertainment for a complete of greater than $500 million between 2020-23.
The corporate was sold back to founder Dave Portnoy for $1 last August after the irreverent brand proved an impediment with state gambling regulators.
While Barstool Sportsbook was capable of get licensed in most states with legal gambling, it failed to realize licensure in Latest York, the state with the largest population that also has legal gambling.
In Massachusetts, it ultimately was licensed, but there was an imbroglio wherein state regulators took issues with the “Can’t Lose Parlay” promotion, as Barstool sought to clarify that the slogan was satirical based on popular talent Dan “Big Cat” Katz, who spearheaded the promotion, being a notoriously unsuccessful gambler.
In one other predicament, PENN compelled Portnoy to fireside personality Ben Mintz for saying the N-word when he rapped the lyrics to a song on a live stream.
Portnoy ultimately rehired Mintz to be an envoy to his Brick Watch brand, after which to Barstool when he regained control of the corporate.
After PENN divested from Barstool, the corporate partnered with ESPN for its gambling app.
A former executive at AOL, Ayers Badan also previously served on WWE’s board.
For years she has hosted the “Token CEO” podcast, which provides business advice to listeners, for Barstool.
Under her leadership, Barstool’s marketing scale greatly expanded, and there have been deals with blue-chip brands equivalent to Coors Lite and Pizza Hut.
The Barstool brand has grow to be mainstream, especially within the coveted 18-34 promoting demographic, with thousands and thousands of followers across X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
It shouldn’t be immediately known what Ayers Badan’s next move will probably be.
Ayers Badan and Barstool founder Dave Portnoy couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.