CNN's Peter King reported that Paul Allen's deal to buy
the Seahawks and keep the team in Seattle is "falling
apart." Allen thought he had a deal to cut the Kingdome
lease from ten to three years, when he would put $40M of his
own money into a new stadium project. King County is
"balking" at lowering the lease to three years. CNN's King
reports that "there's a lot of sentiment in the State of
Washington now for no public money" for the Seahawks and
Allen has given a December 15th deadline to straighten it
out or he "is walking out on this deal." If Allen does not
buy the Seahawks, King notes Ken Behring will remain as
owner, and could look to move the team out of Seattle,
possibly to Southern California ("NFL Preview," CNN, 11/24).
King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer: "It would take
us a millennium to find someone with Paul's wallet, wisdom
and willingness. I hope the community can come together."
State leaders said they might consider improving the
Kingdome, but weren't sure about the kind of public-private
stadium project Allen discussed to keep the Seahawks in
Seattle for the next 30 years (Almond & Schaefer, SEATTLE
TIMES, 11/19). An editorial in yesterday's SEATTLE TIMES
said "Allen is the kind of local owner with the vision and
solid record of community involvement who has been missing
since Ken Behring purchased the team eight years ago. Allen
has to be careful not to be the owner we can't afford"
(SEATTLE TIMES, 11/24).