Seahawks' record $9.612B sale is nearly 50 times what Paul Allen paid in 1997

Franchise value up roughly 49x in 29 years.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 121 min read

The Seahawks were purchased by Paul Allen in 1997 for $194 million. Almost 30 years later they’re being sold for $9.612 Via @AdamSchefter on X

What happened: Paul Allen purchased the Seattle Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million. Almost three decades later, a group led by Vinod Khosla is buying the franchise for $9.612 billion, according to Adam Schefter.

Why it matters: The figure underscores how far NFL franchise values have climbed since Allen's era; the Khosla-led purchase already stands as the largest sale price in league history, topping the Commanders' 2023 deal.

By the numbers: $194 million (1997) to $9.612 billion (2026) is an increase of roughly 49.6 times over 29 years.

What to watch: NFL owners are set to vote on ratifying the sale at a special meeting Aug. 26.

Sources

@AdamSchefter 2026-07-12T00:07:31.114639+00:00

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