The Celtics’ $6.1 billion sale to a group led by Bill Chisholm is one step away from completion.
A source confirmed to the Herald on Thursday that the sale commitments have been finalized and Chisholm’s new ownership group is set.
The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach was the first to report the latest development, citing a letter sent to existing team shareholders.
The [only box left to check](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/03/20/celtics-agree-to-sell-team-to-william-chisholm/) for the franchise is approval by the NBA’s Board of Governors, which is expected to vote on the sale in June or July.
Chisholm’s full list of minority partners has not been disclosed, nor has the exact value of his majority interest, but it includes Robert Hale, a current member of the Celtics’ board of directors; Bruce A. Beal, Jr., the president of Related Companies; and private equity firm Sixth Street Partners.
Per NBA rules that limit private equity investment in teams, Sixth Street cannot hold more than a 20% stake in a franchise, and its share cannot be larger than that of the controlling owner, Chisholm.
Wyc Grousbeck, the face of Celtics ownership since Boston Basketball Partners LLC purchased the team for $360 million in 2002, plans to remain in his roles as team CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season before handing over control to Chisholm.
Both are Massachusetts natives who grew up rooting for the Celtics, with Chisholm spending his formative years in Georgetown on the North Shore before attending Dartmouth College. He is in the process of relocating from California, where he co-founded Bay Area-based Symphony Technology Group, to the Boston area.
“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” Grousbeck said in the initial sale announcement on March 21. “His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next Governor and controlling owner of the team. I know he appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win on the court while being totally committed to the community. Quite simply, he wants to be a great owner. He has asked me to run the team as CEO and Governor for the first three years, and stay on as his partner, and I am glad to do so.”
Chisholm and Grousbeck have watched several Celtics games together from courtside seats since the impending sale was announced. This week, Chisholm attended Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden and Game 5 at TD Garden, wearing a black Jayson Tatum jersey at the latter after the Celtics star [underwent season-ending Achilles surgery](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/05/13/jayson-tatum-undergoes-season-ending-surgery-for-ruptured-achilles/).
The Celtics will look to avoid elimination Friday night when they visit the New York Knicks in Game 6.
Originally Published: May 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM EDT