On this date: Paul Allen purchases option to buy Seahawks

1996: Paul Allen, the billionaire cofounder of Microsoft, purchases an option to buy the Seahawks from owner Ken Behring. On the same day, guard Pete Kendall is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Kendall would start 75 games in five seasons with the team. Under Allen’s ownership, the Seahawks would win the franchise’s first Super Bowl (2013) and its only two conference championships (2005 and 2013).

1993: Ray Donaldson, a Pro Bowl center from the Lions, signs with the Seahawks in free agency. He started 32 games in two seasons with the club.

2002: Former University of Washington tight end Jerramy Stevens is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Stevens would start 26 games in five seasons with the team and catch 45 passes in 2005 – which was then the franchise record for the position.

http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/a ... 4945be8ac9

It should be a national holiday for this alone!

What was the price?

At a Glance

Owner: Paul Allen
Championships: 0
Price Paid: $194 M
Year Purchased: 1997
Revenue2 : $270 M
Operating Income3 : $28.2 M
Debt/Value4 : 11%
Player Expenses5 : $135 M
Gate Receipts6 : $51 M
Wins-to-player cost ratio7 : 162
Revenue per Fan8 : $30
Metro Area Population: 3.6 M

http://www.forbes.com/teams/seattle-seahawks/

One person that we have to tip our hats to is Gary Locke, the governor of our state at that time. He helped coax a reluctant Allen into buying the team, helped push through the state wide stadium initiative that passed by a razor thin margin, and lobbied NFL owners to change their bylaws to allow an owner of another major professional sports franchise to be eligible to own an NFL team. And that's coming from a guy that votes about 80% Republican.

Contrast Locke's actions to those of the Seattle mayor and Washington governor that enabled the Sonics move on their watch.

I HATE to give any politician credit for anything as most of them are parasites, but what you say is true. Same can be said for Slade Gorton who saved the Mariners. Paul Allen is the man though.

Wow.. paid 194M, now probably worth 5x that.

Sports Hernia":3oco75hb said:

I HATE to give any politician credit for anything as most of them are parasites, but what you say is true. Same can be said for Slade Gorton who saved the Mariners. Paul Allen is the man though.

Click to expand...

What you say is more or less correct, but not quite. Slade Gorton didn't really 'save' the Mariners, he helped create them. He was the state Attorney General that successfully sued the American League for a breach of contract for allowing the Pilots to move after just one year in Seattle. In lieu of a large financial settlement, the league awarded Seattle an expansion franchise which became known as the Mariners.

I hope you don't mind the correction.

KitsapGuy":396moo2d said:

At a Glance

Owner: Paul Allen
Championships: 0
Price Paid: $194 M
Year Purchased: 1997
Revenue2 : $270 M
Operating Income3 : $28.2 M
Debt/Value4 : 11%
Player Expenses5 : $135 M
Gate Receipts6 : $51 M
Wins-to-player cost ratio7 : 162
Revenue per Fan8 : $30
Metro Area Population: 3.6 M

http://www.forbes.com/teams/seattle-seahawks/

Click to expand...

"Championships: 0"
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Incorrect
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43-8 babeeeeeee!!!!

Seattle Seahawks
Team Value1 $1,081 M
Team Value calculated August 2013

And we are just... JUST getting started!! :th2thumbs: