Green Goes For Gold: NBA Boston Celtics Sold For Record $6.1B To ‘Die-Hard Fan’
Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 02:17PM By Barry Janoff
March 20, 2025: Boston Basketball Partners LLC today said it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by William Chisholm, a Boston-area native and self-proclaimed “die-hard Celtics fan.”
Chisholm is a co-founder and managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm.
If approved by the NBA Board of Governors, the new ownership group would buy a majority of the team this summer at an initial valuation of $6.1 billion.
The $6.1 billion deal becomes the largest for a sports franchise in North America, surpassing the $6.05 billion sale of the NFL Washington Commanders in 2023, according to industry analysts.
It also passed the previous NBA high of $4 billion, which a group led by Mat Ishbia paid for the Phoenix Suns in 2023.
“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life,” said Chisholm via the team.
“I understand how important the Celtics are to the city of Boston – the role the team plays in the community is different than any other city in the country. I also understand that there is a responsibility as a leader of the organization to the people of Boston, and I am up for this challenge.”
Wyc Grousbeck will continue in his roles of CEO and Governor, overseeing team operations, through the 2027-2028 NBA season. Grousbeck led his family ownership group that in 2002 bought the team for $360 million.
In addition to Chisholm and Grousbeck, this group includes Boston business executives and philanthropists Rob Hale (a current Celtics owner) and Bruce A. Beal, Jr., President of Related Companies, as well as Sixth Street, a global investment firm.
Last month, the Celtics were valued at $5.5 billion by CNBC, No. 7 overall among NBA franchises.
The Golden State Warriors were valued at $9.4 billion, No.1 in the league.
“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” Grousbeck said via the team. “His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next Governor and controlling owner of the team
“I know he appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win on the court while being totally committed to the community. Quite simply, he wants to be a great owner. He has asked me to run the team as CEO and Governor for the first three years, and stay on as his partner, and I am glad to do so.”
The Celtics have won an NBA record 18 NBA titles and are defending league champions.
“My partners and I have immense respect for Wyc, the entire Grousbeck family and their indelible contributions to the Celtics organization over the last 23 years,” Chisholm said.
“We look forward to learning from Wyc and partnering with (president of basketball operations) Brad Stevens, (head coach) Joe Mazzulla and the talented team and staff to build upon their success as we work to bring more championships home to Boston.”
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