In a landmark development for professional sports ownership, the Seattle Seahawks franchise has officially entered a formal sale process just ten days after securing their second Super Bowl championship. The announcement comes from the estate of late owner Paul G. Allen, who purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million, preventing its potential relocation to Southern California.
The technology pioneer and Microsoft co-founder, who passed away in 2018 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma complications, had previously directed that all his sports holdings be sold with proceeds dedicated to philanthropic causes. His sister Jody Allen, who currently serves as executor of the estate and chair of both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, is overseeing the transition.
The Seahawks’ valuation has skyrocketed under Allen’s ownership, with Forbes recently estimating the franchise’s worth at approximately $6.7 billion, ranking it as the 14th most valuable team in the NFL. This potential sale follows the record-breaking $6.05 billion acquisition of the Washington Commanders in 2023 by an investment group led by Josh Harris.
The Allen estate has engaged investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins to manage the sale process. This move coincides with the ongoing sale of the Portland Trail Blazers, where Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has agreed to purchase the NBA franchise for $4.25 billion.
The timing of the announcement, following Seattle’s dominant Super Bowl 60 victory over the New England Patriots, positions the franchise at the peak of its competitive and financial value, potentially attracting significant interest from deep-pocketed investors seeking entry into the elite NFL ownership circle.