The owners of the Red Sox reportedly could look to add another Boston institution to their portfolio: the for-sale Celtics. Fenway Sports Group and RedBird Capital Partners are “seriously considering bidding for the Celtics,” according to a report from the New York Post. The John Henry-led FSG also owns the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Premier League soccer club Liverpool, among other sports-related properties.
RedBird Capital, a private equity firm, has stakes in FSG, A.C. Milan, Alpine F1 Racing and the United Football League.
Both also have deep ties to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who joined FSG’s ownership group in 2021 alongside business partner Maverick Carter and signed a lifetime strategic partnership with Fenway Sports Management in 2023. That connection could make a Fenway pursuit of the Celtics awkward for Boston fans on multiple fronts. Henry and his partners have been harshly criticized in recent years for their handling of the Red Sox payroll, and James is a longtime Celtics rival.
Per NBA rules, James could not gain an ownership stake in a team while he is an active player. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer is preparing to enter his 22nd NBA season. But Wyc Grousbeck, whose family has been majority owners of the Celtics since 2002, intends to sell the team in two phases: a majority interest by early 2025 and the remainder in 2028, with Grousbeck staying on as governor until the latter is finalized.
James presumably will be retired by then,.