Which New York sports team owners are the most politically influential?

The typical owner of a professional sports franchise is a billionaire – or at least a multimillionaire – who has made or inherited a fortune in another industry or profession before buying a stake in a team (or two). These big shots are judged by fans based on their team’s wins and losses. But this list asks a different question: How involved and how influential are New York’s pro sports owners in the world of politics and government?

1

James Dolan

Owner

New York Knicks and New York Rangers

James Dolan’s Knicks are finally in the NBA Finals, and he must also be pleased with the White House’s plan for Penn Station, which keeps Madison Square Garden right where it is. Dolan, whose company recently moved to split the Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers into separate companies, also funds a super PAC that backs city and state legislative candidates.

2

Steve Cohen

Owner

New York Mets

Steve Cohen just snatched one of three lucrative downstate casino licenses, facilitated no doubt by the millions of dollars he spent on an army of lobbyists. The billionaire also spends lavishly on his New York Mets, but the team hasn’t enjoyed the same success.

3

Woody Johnson

Owner

New York Jets

Woody Johnson has acknowledged he needs to turn things around with the beleaguered Jets. But on the political front, he’s thriving. The GOP donor was previously U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and helped Donald Trump return to the White House last year.

4

Hal Steinbrenner

Owner

New York Yankees

Hal Steinbrenner has yet to match the legacy of his late father, George Steinbrenner, who won seven World Series titles and was a mentor to Donald Trump. The iconic Bronx ballclub still has ties to Trump, who attended a home game last year on 9/11.

5

Terry PegulaOwner

Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres

Terry Pegula bought the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and acquired the NFL’s Buffalo Bills a few years later – earning the ire of rival Bills bidder Donald Trump. Now, Pegula is preparing to open his new heavily state-subsidized stadium this fall.

6

Jon Ledecky & Scott Malkin

Co-Owners

New York Islanders

Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin, who were roommates at Harvard, took ownership of the Islanders in 2014. Ledecky, a private equity investor, has donated to Democratic candidates, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Laura Gillen. Malkin comes from a prominent real estate family.

7

John Mara

Owner

New York Giants

John Mara has kept busy lately for the Giants, despite a cancer diagnosis last fall. The team hired John Harbaugh as coach and saw Steve Tisch, a member of the politically connected Tisch family, step down as co-owner amid scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

8

Joe Tsai & Clara Wu Tsai

Co-Owners

Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty

Joe Tsai bought the WNBA’s Liberty in early 2019 and acquired the NBA’s Nets later that year. The Alibaba co-founder, who owns both teams with his wife, Clara Wu Tsai, is occasionally engaged in international politics on Chinese issues.

9

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Owner 

New York City FC

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan isn’t often mentioned in connection with New York City FC, the MLS team set to play at a new Queens stadium next year. But the United Arab Emirates official also owns Manchester City in England.

10

Red Bull GmbH

Owner

New York Red Bulls

Unlike many professional sports teams, the Red Bulls MLS squad is owned by a company – the Austrian energy drink company Red Bull GmbH, of course. The club plays in Harrison, New Jersey.