The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL), based in New York City, New York, USA. They play their home games at Madison Square Garden. The team was founded in 1926.
Ownership of the Rangers is held by Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (also known as MSG Sports), a publicly-traded sports holding company. The team is part of a portfolio of sports assets under MSG Sports, which also includes the New York Knicks (NBA).
Ownership Status of the New York Rangers
There is no single private individual who owns the Rangers outright as a standalone entity. Instead:
- The Rangers are owned via MSG Sports, which is a publicly traded company.
- Because it is publicly traded, ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders.
- However, the ownership and voting control of the company (and thereby the control of the Rangers) resides significantly with James L. Dolan and his family.
Major Shareholders
Here is a table with some of the major shareholders of MSG Sports and their ownership percentages (approximate):
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| James L. Dolan | ~31.86% | Owns significant voting shares via Dolan family control. |
| Silver Lake Management Co., LLC | ~9.75% | Institutional investment firm. |
| Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co. | ~9.51% | Large index fund/asset manager. |
| BlackRock Advisors LLC | ~9.21% | Another major institutional investor. |
Note: The above represent some of the larger shareholders; remaining shares are held by a mix of smaller institutions and individual (retail) shareholders.
About James L. Dolan
James L. Dolan (born May 11, 1955) is an American businessman, currently the Executive Chairman & CEO of MSG Sports, as well as Executive Chairman & CEO of related companies, including Sphere Entertainment Co. and Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
He is the son of media magnate Charles Dolan (founder of Cablevision), and has been deeply involved in the family’s sports and media businesses for decades.
As Executive Chairman, Dolan oversees operations of the Rangers, the Knicks, and the company’s media/network assets (e.g., MSG Network). He also has a background in music and entertainment.
His leadership gives him singular influence over the Rangers even though the team is held via a public company.
James L. Dolan’s Net Worth
Estimating the net worth of James L. Dolan varies depending on source:
- According to one source, his estimated net worth is at least US$148 million as of November 2025.
- Other sources value his net worth much higher, around US$1.5 billion.
- Yet other sources estimate around US$2 billion.
Because he controls significant voting power and holds substantial shares in MSG Sports and related entities, his effective influence is greater than what a simple net-worth number may imply. The discrepancy in estimates arises from differing assumptions about ownership stakes, privately held assets, and valuations of non-public holdings.
Key Shareholder Highlights
- James L. Dolan serves as Executive Chairman & CEO of MSG Sports, giving him direct operational influence over the company and thereby the Rangers.
- The Dolan family holds not just economic ownership but also voting control of MSG Sports and related entities.
- Institutional investors such as Silver Lake, Vanguard, and BlackRock hold significant stakes, but none appear to override the Dolan family’s effective control.
- Because MSG Sports is public, ownership percentages shift over time as shares are bought and sold, but the Dolan family’s control has remained consistent.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- The corporate structure: MSG Sports was formed when the original The Madison Square Garden Company spun off its sports and entertainment operations in 2020; the sports assets (including the Rangers) remained with MSG Sports.
- MSG Sports continues to emphasise the value of its marquee franchises including the Rangers. In the company’s fiscal first‐quarter results for FY2026, James L. Dolan commented positively on the demand for the Knicks and Rangers.
- There have been no publicly announced major ownership transfers of the Rangers themselves; the team remains under the MSG Sports umbrella.
- Because of its public nature, incremental changes in shareholdings (institutional buying/selling) occur regularly.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of the New York Rangers?
The team is owned by MSG Sports (Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.), a publicly-traded company. Control is exercised largely by James L. Dolan, who acts as Executive Chairman & CEO of MSG Sports.
2. Is the New York Rangers franchise publicly traded or privately owned?
The franchise is owned by a public company (MSG Sports), making it publicly held. It is not privately owned by a single individual.
3. Who founded the New York Rangers?
The Rangers were founded in 1926. The broader parent company’s origins trace to the original Madison Square Garden Corporation, which formed the team.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
No major change of ownership (like a sale of the team) has been publicly reported. However, because MSG Sports is a public company, share ownership among institutional investors does change over time.
5. What is James L. Dolan’s role with the Rangers?
James L. Dolan is the Executive Chairman & CEO of MSG Sports, the entity that owns the Rangers. He has operational control and oversees strategy for the franchise.
New York Rangers official site
In summary, while there is no one sole private owner of the New York Rangers, the team is part of the MSG Sports public company, over which James L. Dolan exerts significant control. For all practical purposes, Dolan is the key figure in ownership and management of the franchise. If you’d like a deeper dive into the SEC filings (13D/13G) of MSG Sports or a historical timeline of the ownership of the Rangers, I can pull that up for you.