2 days ago
Boston Celtics' $6.1 Billion Sale Nears Completion; Two-Week Timeline Set: Report
Last Updated:
The Celtics are being sold for $6.1 billion to William Chisholm's group, pending NBA approval. This is the second-largest NBA franchise sale after the Lakers' $10 billion deal.
The Boston Celtics are on the brink of a historic ownership change, with a $6.1 billion sale to private equity executive William Chisholm and his investment group expected to close within the next two weeks.
According to a report by Sportico on Thursday, the transaction is still subject to approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, comprised of the league's 30 team owners. The vote can be conducted remotely and is typically a formality in such high-profile franchise sales.
The Celtics announced in March that the Chisholm-led group would be acquiring the franchise from the Grousbeck family and Boston Basketball Partners LLC. At $6.1 billion, the deal set a new benchmark as the highest price ever agreed upon for a North American sports franchise—until June, when Mark Walter struck a deal to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers at a staggering $10 billion valuation.
The Celtics sale will become the second-largest in NBA history, only behind the Lakers' recent valuation.
Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and co-founder of the California-based private equity firm STG Partners, is a lifelong Celtics fan. While Wyc Grousbeck is expected to remain the team's governor until the end of the 2027–28 season, Chisholm will assume that role once the transition is fully complete.
The Grousbeck-led group originally purchased the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million, a figure that underscores the massive appreciation in franchise valuations over the past two decades. Boston Basketball Partners LLC disclosed in 2023 that they planned to sell the majority stake in late 2024 or early 2025, with the remainder to be offloaded by 2028.
Grousbeck, whose family played a key role in the Celtics' operations and resurgence over the past two decades—including the 2008 NBA Championship—will continue to oversee the franchise during the transitional period.
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
