Related’s Bruce Beal Part of Boston Celtics Buyer Group

Bruce Beal, Jr. is striking out on his own away from his boss Stephen Ross — in the professional sports realm, at least.

Beal is part of the investment group that agreed to buy the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion, Sportico reported. The Related Companies president is not the primary investor in the deal; that distinction belongs to Symphony Technology Group managing partner William Chisholm.

In addition to Beal, the pending ownership group also includes Rob Hale, who was already an investor in the NBA franchise. Private equity fund Sixth Street committed more than $1 billion as an equity partner; it’s unclear what stake Beal will have in the franchise.

The Grousbeck family announced last July that it would be putting the Celtics up for sale, shortly after the team secured its 18th NBA title. The family purchased the team in 2002 for $360 million; the $6.1 billion sale would represent a record price, not just in the NBA, but across American professional sports.

The deal is expected to unfold in two stages. The Grousbecks are expected to sell a majority of the team immediately upon receiving approval from the league and its owners, then the rest of the team in 2028. Wyc Grousbeck is expected to remain in control of the franchise through the 2027-28 season.

In addition to Related, Beal is the vice chair and partner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, which are owned by Ross. A succession plan laid out in 2016 and approved by the other owners in the league gave Beal the first shot at purchasing the Dolphins, should Ross sell or die.

But a few years ago, Ross called an audible, deciding to leave the team to his two daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly, instead. The change of plans came to light shortly after the NFL penalized Ross and Beal for violating the league’s anti-tampering policies in their efforts to recruit Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, though the shift appeared to be unrelated.

— Holden Walter-Warner

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated that Ross left the Dolphins to only his daughter Jennifer.