Lead: The Estate of Paul G. Allen announced Wednesday it has begun a formal process to sell the Seattle Seahawks, consistent with Allen’s directive that his sports holdings eventually be liquidated and proceeds directed to philanthropy. The estate has retained investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins to lead the effort, which the team says is expected to run through the 2026 offseason. Any final purchase would require ratification by NFL owners, who must approve a sale by a vote of 24 of 32. The announcement follows reports last month that the franchise would be offered after the season and comes days after the Seahawks’ Feb. 8 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, 29-13.
Key Takeaways
- The Estate of Paul G. Allen has commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks, selecting Allen & Company and Latham & Watkins to run the transaction.
- The sale timeline is projected to continue through the 2026 NFL offseason; a final deal would need approval from at least 24 of 32 NFL owners.
- Public estimates in the Sports Business Journal place the team’s value between $6.6 billion and $7 billion; analysts note the figure could rise with a Super Bowl title and upcoming media-rights negotiations.
- The Washington Commanders sale set a 2023 record at $6.05 billion; the Los Angeles Lakers fetched about $10 billion in October, benchmarks potential bidders may consider.
- The franchise’s Lumen Field lease runs through the 2031 season with three 10-year extension options, a major factor reducing relocation odds.
- Paul Allen purchased the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million; the franchise has won Super Bowls in the 2013 and 2025 seasons under Paul and Jody Allen’s stewardship.
- The Blazers were put up for sale in May 2024 and are under agreement to be sold for just over $4 billion; the same advisors guided that transaction.
Background
Paul G. Allen acquired the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million after Ken Behring agreed to sell the team; the transaction was tied to local efforts that also produced funding for what became Lumen Field. After Allen’s death in October 2018, his sister Jody Allen became executor and trustee of his estate and assumed the team chair role, with instructions in Allen’s will to eventually sell his professional sports holdings and dedicate proceeds to charitable causes. The estate has allowed the club to operate under her direction in the meantime, including the franchise’s recent competitive rebound that culminated in a Super Bowl title on Feb. 8.
League rules require that a single individual — not an entity such as a trust — be the controlling owner of an NFL franchise, and the Seahawks’ placement in a trust has been noted as a compliance issue. A state clause tied to the 1997 stadium agreement — one that required 10% of a gross sale price be returned to the state — expired in May 2024 (though some sources cite a practical clearance later), and reports said the league intensified pressure on the estate after that clause lapsed. Those timing and legal factors influenced public expectations that the franchise would be marketed this offseason.
Main Event
The team’s formal statement said the Estate of Paul G. Allen “commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise,” naming Allen & Company and Latham & Watkins as lead advisors. The announcement reaffirmed earlier public reporting while outlining the projected schedule that stretches into the 2026 offseason — meaning any closing would likely follow extended negotiations and a requisite owners’ vote. The organization emphasized the sale is being managed consistent with directives in Paul Allen’s estate plan to direct proceeds to philanthropy.
The timing is notable: the sale process was announced after the Seahawks celebrated their second Super Bowl title with a parade through Seattle on Feb. 8, following the 29-13 win over the New England Patriots. Observers have pointed out this is the first time a reigning Super Bowl champion has been publicly placed on the market in the same year it won the title, a circumstance that could raise competitive interest and price expectations. Public valuation estimates in recent trade reporting put the team between $6.6 billion and $7 billion, but several market variables could push offers higher.
Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed related questions in a pre-Super Bowl news conference, praising Jody Allen’s stewardship while acknowledging that the estate’s directives mean the team will eventually be sold. Goodell also denied that the Seahawks were fined $5 million for ownership-rule violations; a Times source confirmed no fine was imposed, though the league had reportedly warned the club that a fine was possible. The advisors selected to run the sale previously guided Portland’s Trail Blazers deal, linking the two high-profile transactions.
Analysis & Implications
From a market perspective, the Seahawks combine a championship profile, a large regional media market, and stable stadium arrangements — qualities that typically attract deep-pocketed buyers and competitive bidding. The team’s recent Super Bowl victory and the NFL’s planned reopening of media-rights negotiations could materially raise expected future revenues, which under standard franchise valuation models would lift a sale price. That makes a sale this cycle potentially among the highest in North American sports history, depending on buyer appetite and financing conditions.
For the league, a high-value sale has both financial and governance implications. NFL owners must vet prospective buyers for financial suitability and operational fit, a process that can stretch months. The 24-of-32 approval threshold gives existing owners substantial influence over buyer selection and any governance concessions attached to a sale. At the same time, continued local ownership or a buyer committed to Seattle would preserve fan goodwill and stadium revenue streams tied to Lumen Field’s lease through 2031 and the club’s long sellout streak dating to 2003.
Locally, the philanthropic intent spelled out in Paul Allen’s estate suggests proceeds will flow to charitable causes, altering the estate’s capital allocation but not necessarily the franchise’s day-to-day management in the near term. Operational continuity — reflected in praise from coach Mike Macdonald and GM John Schneider for Jody Allen’s engagement — reduces immediate disruption risk, though a new owner inevitably brings new priorities that could affect personnel, investments in facilities, and community initiatives.
Comparison & Data
| Franchise | Year | Sale Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Commanders | 2023 | $6.05 billion |
| Portland Trail Blazers (agreement) | 2024 | ~$4.0 billion |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2024 (Oct.) | ~$10.0 billion |
| Seattle Seahawks (public estimates) | 2025 (announced) | $6.6–$7.0 billion (public estimates) |
The table highlights recent benchmarks buyers and analysts will reference. The Seahawks’ public valuation range sits above the Commanders’ 2023 sale and below the Lakers’ record price; however, unique factors — a Super Bowl title, upcoming media deals, and competitive bidder pools — could push the final price beyond public estimates. Lease terms and community ties reduce relocation risk and are likely to be factored into buyer valuations as stabilizing elements.
Reactions & Quotes
League officials and team leaders framed the announcement as consistent with the estate’s directives while stressing operational stability.
“Jody’s doing a great job of managing the team. … But eventually the team will need to be sold in accordance with that. That will be Jody’s decision for when she does that, and we will be supportive of that.”
Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner
Goodell’s remarks reiterated support for the team’s current leadership and confirmed that the estate’s instructions make a future sale inevitable, while also rejecting reports of a $5 million fine. The commissioner’s comments were offered in context of a pre-Super Bowl news conference addressing ownership questions.
“The thing that sticks out to me about Jody was her enthusiasm about where she wanted our team to be … She’s been incredibly supportive.”
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks head coach
Coach Macdonald credited Jody Allen with providing a clear vision that helped shape the franchise’s rebuild, noting regular communication throughout the season and expressing gratitude for her support as the team pursued a championship.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the final sales price will surpass the Lakers’ approximately $10 billion mark remains speculative and depends on bidding dynamics and future revenue projections.
- Reports that the league pressured the estate to sell immediately after the stadium clause expired are based on industry reporting and have not been publicly confirmed by the NFL or the estate.
- The precise timeline for when Jody Allen will sign any final purchase agreement is undetermined and will depend on the pace of negotiations and the owners’ ratification process.
Bottom Line
The Estate of Paul G. Allen’s decision to put the Seahawks into a formal sale process marks a major moment for the franchise, combining a championship asset with clear estate directives and favorable market conditions that could drive a record transaction. While public estimates place the team between $6.6 billion and $7 billion, a convergence of a Super Bowl title and looming media-rights negotiations may attract buyer interest above those ranges.
Operational continuity appears intact for now: leadership praised Jody Allen’s stewardship and the team’s lease and fan base make relocation unlikely. The next steps will be a protracted marketing period led by Allen & Company and Latham & Watkins, followed by buyer vetting and an owners’ vote — milestones that will determine the ultimate buyer, price, and timeline for the Seahawks’ next chapter.
Sources
- The Seattle Times — (local newspaper; original reporting)
- Sports Business Journal — (trade publication; valuation reporting)
- The Wall Street Journal — (national newspaper; reporting on league pressure and legal clauses)
- NFL — (league statements and ownership governance)
- Allen & Company — (investment bank; named advisor)
- Latham & Watkins — (law firm; named advisor)