Nine months ago, the Grousbeck family shocked Boston Celtics fans by announcing their intentions to sell the team. After a few months of the bidding process and reaching the finalist stage, Bill Chisholm of Symphony Technology Group agreed to purchase the Celtics for $6.1 billion, becoming the largest sale of any sports franchise in North America.
Since Chisholm acquired the Celtics, many fans, including myself, started researching Chisholm’s background. There are numerous decisions that Chisholm will have to make, the main one being how long he is willing to pay in luxury tax to keep the core together.
In an interview with NBC Boston that included Wyc Grousbeck, Chisholm made a great first impression, calming the nerves that Celtics fans had with his answers to some important questions.
New Celtics Owner Appeases Fans in Interview
In the interview, Chisholm opened up about growing up in Georgetown, Massachusetts, not far from Boston. He started off by saying he grew up a passionate Celtics fan and that he still maintains his fandom by continuing to follow the team.
"I was just an absolute passionate fan, bleed green. I follow the team, I watch every game, I’m way into it."Bill Chisholm, via NBC Sports Boston
Chisholm also detailed how committed he is to keeping the core together long-term, praising the success of the front office and coaching staff.
"I want to raise banners. I want to raise them now and I want to raise them in the future as well. I look at what Wyc has done, what Brad has done, and Joe has done, and the time is now. They’ve set the team up for the future."Bill Chisholm, via NBC Sports Boston
This is exciting news to hear from Chisholm, who’ll take over after the 2027-2028 season. It’s a no-brainer to keep this core together after they raised their 18th banner last June, but the new CBA makes it difficult to keep this roster together.
The Celtics are projected to spend $230 million just on the roster. Add in the luxury tax, which could be between $270-$280 million since they’re above the second apron, that’s close to $500 million that ownership will have to pay to keep this team together.
The second apron makes life difficult for owners who are willing to spend, limiting how teams can operate. The Celtics cannot give a free agent a mid-level exception of $5.2 million, and if they’re in the second apron three times over five years, their first-round draft pick is moved to the last selection of the round.
That’s a steep price to pay, but that’s the sacrifice Chisholm must be willing to make if he wants to continue raising banners. As for now, Chisholm is off to a great start with his introduction and Celtic fans should be happy to have a passionate fan as owner.