Boston Celtics Sold for Record $6.1 Billion to Private Equity Leader William Chisholm

In a landmark transaction that sets a new benchmark in U.S. sports franchise valuations, the NBA’s Boston Celtics are being sold to William Chisholm, the managing director and co-founder of California-based Symphony Technology Group, for an unprecedented $6.1 billion, The Boston Globe reported on Thursday.

The reported sale price surpasses the previous record of $6.05 billion paid for the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023, making the Celtics the most expensive sports franchise ever sold in North America.

The Celtics, who are fresh off clinching their record 18th NBA championship, are one of the league’s most storied teams. The sale still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors before it can be finalized.

Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and longtime fan of the team, leads a new ownership group that includes current Celtics co-owner Robert Hale, Bruce Beal Jr. — president of real estate giant Related Companies — and global investment firm Sixth Street.

The Grousbeck family, alongside Steve Pagliuca, had originally purchased the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million. Under their stewardship, the franchise added another championship to its legacy and continued to build one of the league’s most loyal fanbases.

Three other potential buyers were reportedly considered for the acquisition: Pagliuca himself, Stan Middleman — co-owner of MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies — and The Friedkin Group, known for its ownership of Serie A club AS Roma.

The sale of the Celtics caps off a period of significant activity in NBA franchise ownership. In 2023 alone, three other teams changed hands at billion-dollar valuations: the Phoenix Suns at $4 billion, the Milwaukee Bucks at $3.5 billion, and the Dallas Mavericks, also at $3.5 billion.

Analysts view the Celtics’ historic valuation as a reflection of the NBA’s global growth and the increasing appeal of iconic sports brands to wealthy investors and private equity firms. With Boston now in the hands of a tech-savvy ownership group, the league will be watching closely to see how the team evolves under new leadership.

For Celtics fans, the sale marks the end of a two-decade era under the Grousbeck-Pagliuca regime, but the hope is that a familiar face in Chisholm will maintain the team’s winning culture and deep-rooted traditions.