Longtime Boston Celtics owners, the Grousbeck family had announced their intention to sell the team last summer. After a long process and multiple bidders, the sale was agreed to on Thursday, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Bill Chisholm of the Symphony Technology Group will be the new owner of the Celtics after agreeing to purchase the team for a valuation of $6.1 billion.
BREAKING: Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for a valuation for $6.1 billion, sources tell ESPN. This now is the largest sale for a sports franchise in North America. pic.twitter.com/iPphqSQswe
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2025
New Celtics Owners Have Difficult Decisions to Make
This is the largest sale of a sports franchise in North America, surpassing the Washington Commanders' sale for $6.05 billion two years ago.
Chisholm reportedly grew up in Massachusetts and is a longtime Celtics fan. He went to Dartmouth College before co-founding the California-based private equity firm, Symphony Technology Group.
The Boston Globe reported that Wyc Grousbeck is expected to remain the team governor during the transition. This continuity will be key as the Celtics are looking to maintain their status as the title favorite in the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future.
Difficult decisions await the new owner. The Celtics are projected to have the biggest payroll ever in NBA history next season. They will owe $225 million in salary to their players, putting them $37 million over the tax threshold and giving the ownership a tax bill of over $250 million. How much appetite the new ownership will have in paying that amount will determine whether Boston can keep this core together.
A big deciding factor for that will be the championship run this season. If the Celtics repeat as champions, it will be difficult to break the team up. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, due to their salaries and age and injury-related concerns, will be at risk of getting moved this offseason.
Grousbeck put together consistently successful teams since buying the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. He empowered the right people, like Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens, and won two titles. Let's hope that the new ownership can do the same.