The sports world is abuzz after the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly agreed to a historic $10 billion sale, the highest valuation ever for a professional sports team. The news has reignited speculation about which major franchise might be next. While NBA headlines dominate, the NFL could soon enter the spotlight, with one insider pointing toward a specific team that has been quietly watched for years.
What the Seattle Seahawks’ Ownership Situation Reveals After LA Lakers’ Record-Breaking Sale
NFL insider Ari Meirov recently addressed growing curiosity over the next franchise likely to hit the market. Speaking candidly, he said, “Knowing the NFL and knowing how these owners operate and knowing how the NFL wants to hold every single record, whichever NFL team eventually goes up for sale, and there will be one… somebody’s going to wake up and just say, you know what, let me get out of this now.” He didn’t mince words about the growing appeal of cashing out, especially with valuations soaring.
Somewhere, an NFL owner is going to see the Lakers’ $10 billion valuation and eventually decide to make a similar move. The #Seahawks have long been viewed as a team that could go up for sale in the near future.
From today’s episode: https://t.co/XxmMIyNeKQ https://t.co/Ndru8yUO6Y pic.twitter.com/0ZEdSMh71k
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 19, 2025
Though Meirov stopped short of a definitive prediction, he did name a franchise that has long lingered on the edge of speculation: the Seattle Seahawks. The late Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and then-owner, passed away in 2018. Since then, his estate, now led by Jody Allen, has overseen the team. While the estate recently clarified they are not selling the Seahawks at this time, important context surrounding the team’s legal situation has shifted.
Under terms tied to their stadium agreement, a sale prior to June 2024 would have required 10 percent of proceeds to be handed over to the state of Washington. That restriction has now expired, opening a legal window for potential action. “Now is really when the window is open,” Meirov noted, adding that NFL rules have also been modified to make team purchases easier.
Fueling further speculation, last month, Allen’s estate announced the formal sale of another of their sports properties, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. In an official statement, Paul G. Allen’s estate confirmed that it has formally begun the process of selling the Portland Trail Blazers, in line with his wishes to eventually divest his sports-related assets. The move aligns with long-standing expectations that all franchises under the Allen umbrella would eventually be sold, with profits directed toward philanthropy.
While the Seahawks have not yet entered formal sale discussions, the valuation landscape is changing rapidly. The 49ers recently sold a 6 percent stake at an $8 billion valuation, and Meirov speculates that any full sale would aim higher. “I would imagine right now the next NFL team that sells, and if it’s going to be Seattle, they’re going to aim to get over $10 billion,” he added.
If the Lakers can command such a price, it is not far-fetched to believe that a high-profile NFL franchise, especially one in a strong media market, could soon follow.
