Sources: Seahawks will go up for sale after Super Bowl LX

The Seattle Seahawks will be put up for sale following Super Bowl LX, as informed sources related to the league and ownership have disclosed to ESPN, putting to rest longstanding speculation regarding potential new ownership after the passing of former owner Paul G. Allen in 2018.

Discussions regarding the sale have occurred at both league and ownership levels for at least the past week, the sources indicated.

The Seahawks, along with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, have been owned by Allen’s estate since he passed away from complications due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018. His sister, Jody Allen, has been overseeing the teams as the executor of the trust, following a directive from her brother to eventually sell both teams and donate the proceeds to charity.

A spokesperson for the NFL declined to provide comments. A representative for the Paul G. Allen estate stated that the organization does not address rumors or speculation, affirming that “the team is not for sale.”

“We’ve already indicated that this will change at some point according to Paul’s wishes, but I have no updates to share,” the spokesperson remarked. “Our current objective is to win the Super Bowl and finalize the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the upcoming months.”

The Seahawks have surpassed a timeline that would have required sharing 10% of the sale proceeds with the state of Washington.

If the Seahawks go on the market, it would mark the first occasion in the Super Bowl era where an entire team that has recently played in the championship game becomes available shortly afterward. In February 1991, Preston Robert Tisch acquired 50% of the victorious New York Giants.

The Seahawks are scheduled to face the New England Patriots on February 8 in Santa Clara, California.

Paul Allen finalized the purchase of the Seahawks from Ken Behring in 1996, with the transaction becoming official in 1997, thus preventing a potential move of the team to Southern California. If the franchise changes hands again, it may set a new record for an NFL team sale price immediately following a Super Bowl appearance and potentially a championship.

The Seahawks have participated in the playoffs in seven of the last ten years. They play at the iconic Lumen Field, recognized by opposing players as one of the most challenging stadiums to compete in, and it is undergoing nearly $20 million in upgrades in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The franchise also boasts one of the league’s top-rated general manager-head coach duos in John Schneider and Mike Macdonald.

Valuations of sports teams have surged in recent years. Sportico assesses the Seahawks’ value at $6.59 billion, ranking them 14th in the league. The most recent NFL team to change ownership was the Washington Commanders, purchased by a group led by Josh Harris in 2023 for a record-breaking $6.05 billion. plus, the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers sold a majority stake at a $10 billion valuation last June.

An executive from the team relayed to ESPN that the Seahawks could potentially command $7 billion to $8 billion upon sale.

The Blazers are in the process of being sold to an investment group headed by Tom Dundon, with an agreement to purchase the team for over $4 billion. Dundon is also the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Jody Allen, who raised the 12 flag before the NFC Championship Game in tribute to her brother, has generally refrained from granting interview requests while overseeing the team, with her first public remarks coming during the Seahawks’ NFC championship trophy presentation at Lumen Field last Sunday: “I’m incredibly proud to be here today and accepting this on behalf of all the 12s present, as well as those across the country and around the globe.”

She made a statement regarding the ownership status in July 2022, clarifying that while neither the Blazers nor the Seahawks were on the market at that time, they ultimately would be. This statement followed an unsolicited bid for the Blazers exceeding $2 billion from Nike founder Phil Knight and Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Alan Smolinisky.

In her 2022 announcement, Allen noted that the teams would eventually be sold “in accordance with Paul’s plans to allocate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy. yet, estates of this magnitude and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to resolve. There is no fixed timeline for the sale of the teams.”

“Until then, my focus — as well as that of our teams — remains on achieving victories.”

The most significant action Allen has taken since assuming control of the team was parting ways with the esteemed coach Pete Carroll after the 2023 season, which elevated Schneider to the position of the team’s primary decision-maker. Schneider appointed Macdonald, who has led the Seahawks to 10- and 14-win regular seasons, culminating in the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl appearance.

“What stands out to me about Jody is her excitement regarding our team’s vision and direction as the Seattle Seahawks,” Macdonald commented during a press conference on Friday. “That was clearly conveyed during our interview process. Honestly, that made me feel strongly that I could contribute to that vision. Everything has been viewed through that lens. It’s clear what kind of team she envisions, and she has been extraordinarily supportive… She has been fantastic.”