Boston Celtics sold to Mass. native, technology group co-founder for record-breaking $6.1 billion

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have been sold to a Massachusetts native and New England college graduate for a record-breaking figure.

William Chisholm, co-founder of the Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the team from the Grousbeck family, the Celtics confirmed in a press release Thursday.

Chisholm grew up in Georgetown, Massachusetts, and graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

The deal is for a valuation of $6.1 billion, the largest sale of a franchise in the big four North American sports and is expected to be ratified by the NBA’s Board of Governors this summer.

“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life. 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 said in a statement.

Chisholm leads the Symphony Technology Group’s investment strategies and is involved in the day-to-day management, according to his bio on the company’s website. Symphony Technology Grou is a private equity firm that manages “data, software and analytics ventures,” per its website.

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Last year, the majority ownership group of the Celtics, led by Wyc Grousbeck, announced plans to sell the team, just days after Boston held a rolling rally in celebration of the franchise’s long-awaited Banner 18.

He led the group that bought the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. The team is now worth $4.7 billion, according to Forbes.

Grousbeck will continue in his roles of CEO and Governor, overseeing team operations, through the 2027-2028 NBA season.

“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” Grousbeck said. “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.”

How the Boston Celtics' $6.1b sale compares to the price tags of other North American sports franchises

“My partners and I have immense respect for Wyc, the entire Grousbeck family and their indelible contributions to the Celtics organization over the last 23 years,” Chisholm added. “We look forward to learning from Wyc and partnering with Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and the talented team and staff to build upon their success as we work to bring more championships home to Boston.”

When the Celtics sale was announced last July, the Grousbeck family said it intended to sell 51 percent of the team in late 2024 or early 2025 with the other portion changing hands at a later date.

Celtics minority owner Steve Pagluica, one of the four finalists to purchase the Grousbeck family’s share, said in a statement on social media that he was proud of the bid his group put forth. According to Pagluica, his group made a “fully-guaranteed offer at a record price” and did not include debt or private equity money “that would potentially hamstring our ability to compete in the future.”

“I want to thank all of the players and fans over these many years that have supported us in rebuilding the team and winning two championships. We couldn’t have done any of this without you. As the grandson of Italian immigrants who came to America with only their willingness to work hard to be part of the American dream, I am thankful that I have been able to be part of the Celtics history and legacy, and I will be forever grateful for all the memories along the way,” Pagluica stated. “As Red Auerbach said, ‘the Celtics are not just a basketball team, but a way of life’ and my family and I will continue to be lifelong fans and cherish the honor of being part of the organization for so many years. I will never stop being a Celtic, and if the announced transaction does not end up being finalized, my partners and I are ready to check back into the game and bring it home, to help continue what the Celtics do best- win.”

Here's my statement on today's news. pic.twitter.com/lhKCslEcgF
— Steve Pagliuca (@pagsceltics) March 20, 2025

Current Celtics minority owner Rob Hale, founder and CEO of Granite Telecommunications. will join Chisholm’s ownership group. Hale’s net worth is $5.8 billion, per Forbes.

Bruce A. Beal, Jr., President of Related Companies, will also come aboard with the new ownership, according to the organization’s statement.

The sale price tops the $6.05 billion paid by a group led by Josh Harris for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

The sale also blows clear past the NBA’s record for the most expensive team purchase. In 2023, the Phoenix Suns were purchased by mortgage firm owner Mat Ishbia for $4 billion, the Milwaukee Bucks were sold to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam for $3.5 billion, and Mark Cuban agreed to the sale of the majority of his Dallas Mavericks’ ownership shares to Miriam Adelson and son-in-law Patrick Dumont, who operates the Las Vegas Sands casino company, for $3.5 billion.

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