The Boston Celtics underwent a major change Thursday.
The Grousbeck family agreed to sell the illustrious franchise for a record price of $6.1 billion to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, who is the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group based in California.
Not a ton is known about Chisholm, who is a Massachusetts native. But he made sure to make his intentions clear about his expectations for the Celtics now that he owns the team.
“I’m all about winning championships and raising banners, and doing that now, and also doing it over the long term,” Chisholm told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach Thursday. “I think (lead governor Wyc Grousbeck) has done an incredible job of balancing that, and I think that’s the path we’re on and that’s the path we should stay on.”
Chisholm’s group will obtain 51% of the organization from the Grousbecks after the NBA Board of Governors, who are set to meet next week in New York, approve the sale. Grousbeck is expected to stay on in his role through the 2027-28 season.
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Chisholm has many things to consider in his new role. One of the most pressing matters facing Chisholm is the highly expensive cost of the Celtics roster, which could exceed $500 million after luxury-tax penalties next season.
But Chisholm appears ready to foot that massive bill.
“This team is incredible, the team they have right now, in every way,” Chisholm said. “But I think it’s even a bigger thing. I think you have to be from Boston to get it. This team, the legacy and commitment to excellence here, it is about this team, but it’s about forever.”