With a Sale Price of $6 Billion, Boston Becomes the Most Expensive Club in America
In a record-breaking deal for an American sports club valued at up to $6.1 billion, ownership of the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, will be transferred to a private investment firm.
The management of one of the most storied basketball franchises in the U.S. has agreed to sell the team, which holds the record for the most championships (18 titles), to businessman William Chisholm, the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group.
With a deal worth $6.1 billion, this is officially the most expensive purchase of a sports team in North America, surpassing the $6.05 billion paid for the Washington Commanders of the NFL in 2023.
According to local media, Chisholm, a Massachusetts native, is a devoted Celtics fan. The team was put up for sale in July 2024, just two weeks after securing their record-breaking 18th championship. The new investor group also includes Robert Hale, one of the current Celtics owners, Bruce Beal Jr., president of Related Companies, and the global investment firm Sixth Street.
The sale is still subject to approval by the NBA Board of Governors, which consists of the league’s team owners.
American media reports indicated that three other buyers were under consideration: Steve Pagliuca, one of the Celtics’ current owners, Stan Middleman, a partner in the ownership of the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball, and the Friedkin Group.
The Grousbeck family and Pagliuca originally purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. In the following year, three NBA teams were sold: the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion, and both the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion each.
The “Green” franchise, which has already secured a spot in the playoffs set to begin in mid-April, enjoys immense global popularity. Led by star player Jayson Tatum, the Celtics claimed their record-breaking 18th title, surpassing rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, after a 16-year wait since their previous championship in 2008.
This achievement, along with others over the years, has significantly boosted the team’s market and commercial value, making the massive sale price a stark contrast to the amount paid by the current owners to acquire the club 23 years ago.
