Despite their success on the field, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to change hands soon amid increasing pressure from the NFL and other league owners, reports the Wall Street Journal.
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Since the death of their historic owner, Paul Allen, in 2018, the team has been controlled by a trust chaired by his sister, Jody Allen. This temporary structure, tolerated for several years, however, does not respect the NFL’s governance rules which require that an individual – and not a legal entity – hold control of a franchise.
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journalthe league’s patience would have run out long before Seattle’s recent NFC championship.
Behind the scenes, the NFL has reportedly stepped up its calls for order, going so far as to fine the franchise $5 million for non-compliance with ownership rules, although the league has officially denied the existence of this sanction.
The situation became more complicated after the expiration in 2024 of a clause dating from 1997 linked to the financing of the team’s stadium, which provided that a rapid sale would result in the payment of 10% of the transaction to the state of Washington.
With this constraint removed, the NFL expected the sale to go ahead, which did not happen.
The contrast did not go unnoticed in league circles: The trust agreed to sell Paul Allen’s other major sports asset, the Portland Trail Blazers, for more than $4 billion, while retaining one of the NFL’s most popular and successful franchises.
If the Seahawks sale goes through after the Super Bowl, it could set a new record. The recent US$6 billion (CA$8.2 billion) trade for the Washington Commanders has already redefined the market and the value of teams continues to rise.
date: 2026-02-07 05:40:00