The Seattle Seahawks are anticipated to be put up on the market after Super Bowl LX, in keeping with league and possession sources, bringing an finish to years of uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future possession following the loss of life of Paul Allen in 2018.
Sources indicated that sale discussions have been ongoing at league and possession degree for at the very least the previous week.
The Seahawks have been owned by Allen’s property since his loss of life, along with his sister Jody Allen performing as executor of the belief. Allen directed that each the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers be offered, with proceeds in the end donated to charity.
An NFL spokesperson declined to remark. A spokesperson for the Paul Allen property mentioned the organisation doesn’t touch upon hypothesis and reiterated that “the crew shouldn’t be on the market”, whereas acknowledging {that a} sale would ultimately happen consistent with Allen’s needs.
“We’ve already mentioned that may change in some unspecified time in the future per Paul’s needs, however I’ve no information to share,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Our focus proper now could be profitable the Tremendous Bowl and finishing the sale of the Portland Path Blazers within the coming months.”
The Seahawks at the moment are past the purpose at which a sale would have required sharing 10 p.c of the proceeds with the state of Washington.
If the franchise is offered following Tremendous Bowl LX, it might mark the primary time within the Tremendous Bowl period {that a} crew competing within the championship recreation is positioned in the marketplace shortly afterwards.
Seattle face the New England Patriots in Tremendous Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California.
Paul Allen bought the Seahawks from Ken Behring in 1996, with the deal finalised in 1997, saving the franchise from a possible relocation to Southern California. A future sale may set a brand new benchmark for an NFL franchise worth, notably if it follows a Tremendous Bowl look or victory.
The Seahawks have reached the playoffs in seven of the previous 10 seasons and play at Lumen Discipline, broadly thought to be one of many league’s most difficult venues for visiting groups. The stadium can also be present process near $20 million in upgrades forward of the 2026 World Cup. The franchise is led by basic supervisor John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald, a pairing thought of among the many league’s strongest.
Jody Allen has hardly ever spoken publicly throughout her tenure overseeing the Seahawks, however addressed followers at Lumen Discipline after the NFC Championship Sport final weekend.
“I’m extremely proud to be standing right here right this moment and accepting this on behalf of all of the 12s right here, all of the 12s throughout the nation and all of the 12s throughout the globe,” she mentioned.
Allen beforehand said in 2022 that there was no mounted timeline for promoting the groups, citing the complexity of the property.
“Till then, my focus – and that of our groups – is on profitable,” she mentioned on the time.
