<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF BOSTON CELTICS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 7,142 <SECURITIES> 29,251 <RECEIVABLES> 29 <ALLOWANCES> 10 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 113,673 <PP&E> 1,957 <DEPRECIATION> 818 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 128,939 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 53,331 <BONDS> 50,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (10,679) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 128,939 <SALES> 25,274 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 25,274 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 22,230 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,950 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,390 <INCOME-TAX> 900 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,490 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,490 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.44