NBA: businessman Tilman J. Fertitta to acquire the Houston Rockets for a record $2.2bn

"A definitive agreement has been signed for the purchase of the NBA franchise by Houston businessman Tilman J. Fertitta, sole owner of the Landry’s restaurant empire and Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels. The transaction, which includes operation of the Toyota Center Arena, requires the approval of the NBA Board of Governors," announced the NBA franchise based in Houston, Texas on 05/09/2017.

The amount of the transaction would be $2.2bn (€1.83bn) according to US media. Leslie Alexander, the current owner, bought the Houston Rockets franchise in 1993 for $85m. Tilman J. Fertitta, had at that time, made an offer of $81, which was refused.

This would a record acquisition price for an NBA franchise. The current one concerns the the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, bought for $2bn (€1.5bn on 12/08/2014) by Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, on 12/08/2014.

• Tilman J. Fertitta was among the ownership group of the Houstons Texans (NFL National Football League, the professional league of American…