Reports Claim Allen, Behring Talks Serious

The deal that would return the Seattle Seahawks to their home in the Kingdome under the ownership of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is rapidly falling into place, according to reports from Seattle and California.

While Allen’s spokeswoman continues to insist that the Seattle billionaire is still just looking at buying the team, others say Allen and current owner Ken Behring could reach an agreement in principle as early as this weekend.

Such an agreement likely would include a purchase price of $200 million to $225 million, a new lease between the Seahawks and King County, and a promise that King County will remodel the Kingdome with Allen.

It could all still fall through. Allen or Behring could back out, but for the first time, both sides are publicly talking terms. And football boosters say they are optimistic.

King County Executive Gary Locke said “it’s nice to know that both sides are acknowledging those discussions. Things are very encouraging. … All signs are positive.”

King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer, who has been attempting to broker a sale, agreed.

“The decision now is the decision of will,” he said. “Each is aware of the other’s financial parameters. … If the dollars were going to frighten anyone away, they would have been frightened away two weeks ago.”

In the six weeks since he announced he was moving the NFL team to Southern California, Behring has repeatedly said the team is not for sale. But he has also apparently worked through von Reichbauer to provide information to Bob Whitsitt, who is exploring the purchase on Allen’s behalf, even going so far as to meet with Whitsitt in California.

The Los Angeles Times on Thursday quoted Behring as saying any offer from Allen would have to start at $225 million. “If someone laid a staggering amount of money on the table, I’d at least look at it,” he said.

Sources close to the Allen camp say the former Microsoft executive is planning to offer a slightly less staggering amount - about $200 million - which would still be a record price for a professional sports franchise.

Whatever the price Allen may pay Behring, he still has to figure out a way to make the Kingdome pay. That’s even more crucial if he winds up paying top dollar to keep the franchise at home in Seattle.

“He is willing to buy a troubled team. But he is not in this to buy a troubled team and a troubled facility,” von Reichbauer said.

Whitsitt spent part of this week meeting with King County officials. The officials said he sounded them out about their willingness to work with Allen on the Kingdome. Sources said Whitsitt has asked for a number of changes in the Kingdome lease, which has 10 years to run.

The possibilities include:

Control of concessions. Many of the newest sport deals let teams control their own concessions, allowing them to push up variety and quality - and prices - and make more money off every visitor. Under the current Kingdome lease, the county contracts with a private concessionaire, then shares some of the profits with the Hawks and Mariners.

Of $19.2 million in gross concession sales in 1995, the Seahawks wound up with less than $600,000, according to the Kingdome.

Lower rent. The Seahawks last year paid a little more than $1 million in rent to King County. Some newer leases charge teams no rent at all.

Kingdome improvements. This is the biggie, a $125 million or so remodeling job that would add new luxury boxes and better amenities to the 20-year-old Kingdome. All sides concede the job will probably require contributions from Allen, the business community and the state.

Escape clause. If King County fails to fix the Kingdome, an escape clause would give the Seahawks a way out of a losing deal. The Mariners received such a clause a decade ago.

Whitsitt could not be reached for comment on these specifics. Allen spokeswoman Susan Pierson said she was not familiar with the details but said they were the type of problems Allen wanted resolved.

“There are many stadium-related issues - particularly revenue-related issues - we would be interested in pursuing prior to making an investment,” Pierson said.

Locke said the county is willing to renegotiate the Seahawks’ Kingdome lease, short of the county actually subsidizing the cost of putting on games in the Kingdome.