Knicks owner James Dolan says he doesn’t like owning sports teams, but no one is stopping him from selling

It wasn’t too way back that you’d see “Sell the team” indicators at New York Knicks video games within Madison Square Garden, appearing the displeasure Knicks fanatics held towards crew owner James Dolan. And in spite of the small quantity of good fortune the crew has had in the previous few years — two playoff appearances within the ultimate 3 seasons together with advancing to the second one spherical ultimate season — I’m positive many Knicks fanatics would nonetheless be elated if Dolan offered the franchise.

Dolan has again and again stated on more than one events he has no passion in selling the crew, maximum lately again in January announcing, “I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point. I’m not retiring any time soon. It’s a family-controlled asset, so someone in the family will own it.” Dolan will not be having a look to promote, but he surely doesn’t sound like he enjoys owning the Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers. In a New York Times feature that targeted totally on Dolan’s newest industry challenge, the quickly to be opened Sphere in Las Vegas, he shared why he would not purchase any other sports crew.

From the New York Times:

…(Dolan) regarded as increasing his sports portfolio, possibly via purchasing a baseball or football crew. But whilst the Knicks and Rangers are “near and dear to my heart,” he stated, “I don’t really like owning teams,” calling the economics of main league sports “kind of sleepy.” He dominated out that possibility.

Calling the location of crew owner “kind of sleepy” is not what you need to listen to from the fellow who will get many of the ultimate say at the Knicks’ selections. But it is also now not in the least unexpected while you imagine the loss of good fortune the Knicks have had since 1999, which is when Dolan was once installed position to run the franchise. 

In the 24 years that Dolan has been CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Company, the father or mother corporate that owns the Knicks, the Knicks have made the playoffs simply 8 occasions, advancing previous the primary spherical most effective thrice. They’ve long past on two separate playoff droughts that lasted six and 7 years each and every. 

The Knicks had been mired in a sexual harassment lawsuit, and Dolan has famously gotten right into a public red meat with cherished Knicks legend Charles Oakley, who is now banned from attending Knicks video games. He’s extensively utilized facial reputation to prohibit positive fanatics which have been adversarial towards him. Despite the Knicks being one of, if now not essentially the most, iconic NBA franchise within the league’s historical past, Dolan runs the crew like it is an inconvenience or burden. 

Dolan says he doesn’t in particular experience operating a sports crew, but no one is stopping him from selling, or on the very least conceding keep watch over to any individual else. He’s taken a step again after hiring Leon Rose to be president of the Knicks, and in Rose’s quick stint to this point the Knicks have made the playoffs two times within the ultimate 3 years. But if the daily of owning a sports crew doesn’t passion Dolan, there may be definitely a variety of folks prepared to step into that position. He’s stated previously that the possession of the Knicks will keep within the Dolan circle of relatives, so possibly it is time to hand if off to any individual else.