After a failed pursuit of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Jeff Bezos has turned his eyes to one of many NBA’s prime franchises.
The Amazon founder is thinking about shopping for the Boston Celtics, Invoice Simmons stated Monday on his podcast, with the Grousbeck household eager to promote the crew after it gained an NBA championship in June.
“In the previous couple of days there’s been some I feel professional buzz about Jeff Bezos shopping for the Celtics, and I feel it’s actual. I feel he’s gonna be one of many suitors,” Simmons stated. “Which received me pondering, why would Jeff Bezos, when he’s wanting on the Celtics, what’s he seeing? What does he need? I feel the one approach it is sensible — I imply, granted, he has a gajillion {dollars} — nevertheless it’s one of many crown-jewel franchises, proper? That’s why you get it. To him it’d be no completely different than if he purchased this well-known, gigantic, $300 million yacht. However I feel it’s actual that he’s probably within the combine for this.”
Simmons additionally stated the NBA desires the Celtics to promote for $6 billion, as that’s their goal price for growth groups.
“It’s a loopy worth, however they’re most likely gonna get it,” Simmons stated. “They need the $6 billion as a result of they need growth groups in Seattle and Vegas — and Mexico Metropolis’s sort of looming because the third crew — however they need to get $6 billion apiece for the 2 franchises for growth, which might imply a examine of $400 million to each NBA proprietor, all 30.”
Whereas there have been some questions on whether or not Dan Snyder can be keen to promote the Commanders to Bezos, the Monetary Occasions reported in June that Bezos was “merely outbid” by Josh Harris, the Devils and 76ers proprietor who purchased the NFL crew for $6.05 billion.
Celtics possession introduced on July 1 its intention to promote the crew “for property and household planning concerns,” with the expectation {that a} sale of a majority of the crew would occur this 12 months or early 2025, with the remainder of the crew being offered in 2028.
The Submit reported earlier this month that Fenway Sports activities Group additionally had curiosity in buying the Celtics.
Wyc Grousbeck, who’s been the crew’s governor, working the Celtics for his father, Irv, desires to stay in that function till the crew is totally offered in 4 years.
“The expectation is to promote the time in two components with 51 % going pretty quickly, 49 % then closing in second closing. That’s the expectation in 2028,” Grousbeck informed CNBC final month. “I’m planning or anticipating to remain on till 2028. We’re going to rent bankers and advisers. That is going to be fairly the bidding course of.”
Celtics minority proprietor Steve Pagliuca will probably be bidding to change into the crew’s majority proprietor.
