The Boston Celtics will soon be under new majority ownership.
As reported Thursday by Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the franchise will be sold to William Chisholm, currently the managing director of Symphony Technology Group, for a valuation of $6.1 billion.
This comes nine months after Boston Basketball Partners LLC, led by Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, announced last June their intention to sell the controlling stake of the franchise. It was a shocking turn of events at the time, fresh off the Celtics winning the 2025 NBA Finals and reestablishing themselves as the most successful franchise in basketball.
Despite the ownership change, which always takes a while to finalize, Grousbeck is planning to remain the Celtics’ CEO and governor through June 2028. That was an important piece of the Grousbeck family’s blueprint when they announced the decision to sell.
Chisholm and his group largely came out of nowhere in the bidding wars. But he’s not entering this venture blindly, as he’s a Massachusetts native and lifelong Celtics fan. He attended Dartmouth College, roughly two hours north of Boston, and graduated with an MBA with Distinction. Chisholm also has his fingerprints on many other companies, currently sitting on the board of directors for Cadmium, CAI Software, Dodge, eProductivity Software, and Jobrapido, among others.
As for Symphony Technology Group is a private equity firm based in Menlo Park, CA. Founded in 2002, they primarily invest in and help build software and services companies.
According to the Boston Globe report, Chisholm claims he is intending to purchase a house in the Boston area in the near future.
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When approved, this will immediately become a record-breaking transaction.
Before today, the record for the most expensive sale in North American pro sports history belonged to Josh Harris and his business partners when they purchased the Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion in 2023.
The price Chisholm is paying for the Celtics will surpass the NBA’s record, however, by more than $2 billion. When mortgage lender Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion in 2023, it was a clear indication of where the market was heading. If franchises with only a fraction of the Celtics’ storied history were going for that rate, the number was going to be steep in a city that boasts 18 championship banners.
BOSTON, USA - JUNE 21: Celtics team owner Wyc Grousbeck carries the Larry O'Brien Championship ... [+] Trophy before the start of the Championship parade in Boston, Massachusetts on June 21, 2024. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty Images
One of the major concerns of new ownership entering the fold, particularly for a championship contender, is how they’re planning to navigate the expensive payroll and luxury tax bill. As things currently stand, the Celtics are on track to have $500 million in committed salaries plus tax payments for the 2025-26 roster.
Whether or not that number continues to rise will depend on the governing body’s willingness to keep Boston’s core together. That’s why most Boston fans rejoiced when it was clear John Henry and Fenway Sports Group didn’t emerge as serious threats to purchasing the team. Their reputation hasn’t been the greatest as it relates to being willing to spend long-term money and retain successful groups.
Based on the early comments Chisholm made to Business Wire on Thursday morning, he appears dedicated to keeping the team competitive. As any successful businessman in the sports world knows, that will require paying for top talent and doing what it takes to outpace competitors.
“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life,” Chisholm said in a statement to Business Wire. “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.”
Chisholm also went on the record with ESPN, speaking on the state of the franchise and letting Celtics fans know he’s not trying to disrupt anything.
“The team is in a great place right now,” he told Shams Charania. “I’m very sensitive to that. Wyc, Brad Stevens, and Joe Mazzulla have done amazing jobs and my approach is to win and raise banners. That’s in the near term and long term."
By all accounts, Chisholm’s goal is to extend the window of this current iteration of the team that breezed through the NBA playoffs last year and still looks to be an unmistakable contender as long as the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown duo remain intact.