The Boston Celtics are set to usher in a new era of ownership after the NBA’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the historic franchise to a group led by private equity executive Bill Chisholm. The league confirmed the decision in a statement on Wednesday, noting that “the transaction is expected to close shortly.”
The sale comes at a staggering $6.1 billion valuation, making it the second-highest price ever paid for a U.S. sports franchise. Only the $10 billion valuation of the Los Angeles Lakers, sold to Mark Walter in June, stands above it.
Chisholm and his investment group will acquire at least 51 percent of the Celtics immediately, with a provision in the purchase contract to buy out the remaining minority shareholders by 2028. That future acquisition will be based on a $7.3 billion valuation, indicating confidence in the team’s continued growth and market strength.
Once the transaction is finalized, Chisholm is expected to become the new governor of the Celtics. Outgoing owner Wyc Grousbeck, who led the Boston Basketball Partners LLC group, will continue as alternate governor and CEO through 2028. After that, Grousbeck will step away from governance entirely, as he will no longer hold the minimum 15 percent ownership stake required to retain that role.
Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and lifelong Celtics fan, is the co-founder and managing partner of STG Partners, a California-based private equity firm. His deep ties to the region and passion for the franchise are expected to resonate strongly with the Celtics’ dedicated fanbase.
The sale marks the end of an era for Grousbeck and his ownership group, who purchased the team for $360 million in 2002. Under their stewardship, the Celtics won two NBA championships — first in the 2007-08 season and most recently in 2023-24, when the franchise claimed its record-setting 18th title.
The upcoming transition signifies more than just a change in leadership; it represents the evolving landscape of professional sports ownership, where billion-dollar valuations and private equity involvement are becoming the new norm.
For Celtics fans, Chisholm’s arrival brings both continuity and promise. He is a hometown investor taking the reins of the league’s most storied franchise, with the ambition and resources to carry the legacy forward.
