Seahawks Entering Great Unknown With Sale Now Imminent

Back in February 1996, the Seattle Seahawks already had one foot out the door with sights on moving to Anaheim, California, as then-owner Ken Behring cited the inability to secure a new stadium to replace an aging Kingdome as the primary reason for relocation.

Only 20 years into their existence as an NFL franchise, Behring’s efforts to move the team went as far as equipment being shipped to a facility in Anaheim that previously belonged to the Los Angeles Rams. In the middle of a 10-year drought without a playoff appearance, which still stands as the longest stretch in franchise history to this day, it was a tumultuous stretch for Seahawks fans on and off the field without certainty that the team would still be in town in the near future.

Thankfully for the 12s, after King County and the state of Washington sued Behring for a lease violation, the NFL stepped in with threats of massive fines, ultimately forcing Behring to halt his ambitious relocation plan and put the team up for sale. Paul Allen jumped in as the savior for the franchise, purchasing the Seahawks in 1997 and quickly securing a new stadium, ensuring the team would stay in the Pacific Northwest permanently.