In June 2024, the Boston Celtics they touched the sky with a finger, celebrating their 18th NBA title and becoming, alone, the most successful team in the league, surpassing the historic rivals of the Los Angeles Lakers. A triumph which, however, was soon obscured from an unexpected news: a few days after the victory, the Grousbeck family, owner of the franchise since 2002, announced the decision to put the team up for sale.
Today, nine months later, the handover is official: the Celtics have a new owner. The historic franchise passes into the hands of the tech tycoon Bill Chisholm, who ensured control of the team with a $6,1 billion check. A stellar figure, which marks a new record in the history of American sports, surpassing the $6,05 billion spent in 2023 for the NFL's Washington Commanders.
A Golden Deal: The Celtics Are Worth 20 Times More
Purchased in 2002 for “just” 360 million dollars, Boston Celtics they turned out to be a golden deal for the Grousbeck, who in over twenty years have seen the value of the team multiply almost by twentyi. But it was not just a financial success: under their management, Boston has won two NBA titles, in 2008 and in 2024, and reached two more finals, in 2010 and 2022.
Although the current roster is among the most competitive in the league, with stars of the caliber of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porziņģis, Grousbeck family has chosen to pass the baton, selling the team to the highest bidder. And the highest bidder was none other than Bill Chisholm, co-founder and managing partner of Symphony Technology Group (Stg), a Californian giant specializing in software and data analysis.
Who is Bill Chisholm, the new “chief” of Boston
If in the world of basketball his name had never circulated before, in finance and technology Bill Chisholm is a well known face. Born and raised in Georgetown, Mass., and graduated from Dartmouth, has always been a fan of the Celtics. Now, in addition to cheering, he will also be able to decide the future of the team.
According to what reported by Boston Globe, the new ownership will work closely with Wyc Grousbeck for the next three years, with the former owner retaining the role of Governor of the team until 2028. The deal includes the involvement of other important names, including the billionaire Robert Hale e Bruce Beal Jr., Chairman of the Related Companies.
In the race to buy the Celtics, there was no shortage of well-known faces on the Italian scene: Chisholm, also supported by Goldman Sachs (writes Bloomberg), had to outperform the competition of figures like Stan Middleman but especially of Steve Pagliuca (owner of Atalanta and former minority shareholder of Grousbeck) and Dan Friedkin, owner of Roma.
A golden future, but not without challenges
If on one hand Boston confirms itself as one of the most iconic and sought-after franchises in the NBA, on the other Chisholm and his team will immediately face significant economic obstacles. The team's salary cap and the luxury tax could reach the record figure of 500 million dollars next season, an expense that will require careful decisions to maintain the financial sustainability of the team.
The economic context of the nba, however, is more than favorable. The league is in excellent health, as demonstrated by the recent $76 billion TV rights deal with ESPN, Nbc and Amazon. Investing in Celtics it is not just a financial operation, but a strategic coup: Boston, together with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, Is one of the most profitable teams and support the league.
Even compared to other recent sales in the NBA, the Celtics' primacy is clear: the Phoenix Suns they were sold for 4 billion, Milwaukee Bucks for 3,5 billion and Dallas Mavericks for the same amount. The Boston franchise, on the other hand, has shattered every record, confirming itself as one of the most sought-after teams in the sports panorama.
An era ends, but the Celtics remain among the favorites
Now we are just waiting for the green light from Board of Governors of nba, but in the meantime Boston fans can rest assured: the team is strong, solid and still a serious title contender. At the moment the Celtics are Second in the Eastern Conference, and with a core young and talented, the prospects for the future are more than rosy.
After bringing the title back to Boston and multiplying the value of the franchise like no other, the Grousbeck family says goodbye with a success that is both sporting and economic. Now the ball is in the court of Chisholm: will be able to maintain the Celtics at the top of the nba?
