By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Boston Celtics have been sold to William Chisholm, managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, for 6.1 billion dollars.
The agreement was confirmed on Thursday.
The reported value of 6.1 billion dollars marks the largest sum to buy a sports franchise in North America. The Washington Commanders held the previous record after the NFL franchise changed ownership for a sum of 6.05 billion dollars in 2023. Also in 2023, Mat Ishbia set the previous NBA record by paying four billion dollars to buy the Phoenix Suns.
After purchasing the C’s for 360 million dollars in 2002, the Grousbeck family revealed intentions to sell the storied franchise a few weeks after the 18th NBA championship in team history for a triumphant conclusion of the 2023-24 journey. Current co-owner Wyc Grousbeck will remain CEO and Governor until the new ownership is formally approved by the NBA Board of Governors and for the next three years.
Defending last year’s championship through an extended transition with several bids to buy the franchise, the team coached by Joe Mazzulla sits second in the Eastern Conference standings with a 50-19 record. Considering a distance of six games from the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and 6.5 games from the third-seeded New York Knicks, the Celtics are likely to stay in the second seed until the end of the Regular Season and the tipoff of the 2025 Playoffs presented by Google.
A six-game road trip stretching until the end of March follows on the team schedule and starts with visiting the Utah Jazz in Delta Center on Friday.