2010 MEDIA GUIDE - Seahawks Online Media Packet

18 FRONT OFFICE
PAUL G. ALLEN
CHAIRMAN, VULCAN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Growing up in the Northwest,
Paul G. Allen’s passion for football
was kindled attending University of
Washington football games with
his father. As years passed, a fondness
toward the Seahawks developed.
When former ownership
threatened in 1996 to move the
Seahawks to southern California,
Allen acted on an opportunity to
purchase the club and save pro
football in Seattle. Along with the
purchase came the vision of a new
multi-functional stadium and exhibition
hall. On June 30, 1997, the
purchase was completed, keeping
the Seahawks in the Great
Northwest.
“From the beginning of this
process, my goals have been to
work with the community to create
a lasting asset for our future; and
to ensure the long-term success of
the Seahawks,” said Allen at the
time of purchasing the franchise.
“Moving forward, our goals are to
build a playoff caliber team and to
create a world-class facility for the
state of Washington.”
Both goals have been realized.
In 2002, the vision of Seahawks
Stadium and Exhibition Center,
renamed Qwest Field & Qwest
Field Event Center in 2004, became
reality. An open air facility which
many argue is the best venue in the National
Football League, Qwest Field is home to over
300 events annually, including Major League,
Supercross, concerts, graduation ceremonies,
and trade shows. The Seahawks have also
reached the postseason five of the last seven
seasons, including their first ever Super Bowl
trip in 2005 after a franchise-best 13-3 record.
“It exceeds the vision we had originally,”
Allen said shortly after the opening of the stadium.
“We had a bunch of goals about trying to
create a really intimate stadium that would be
great for the fans, to have elegant architecture,
and I think we’ve ended up with a fantastic facility.”
An investor and philanthropist, Allen creates
and advances world-class projects that
change and improve the way people live, learn,
work and experience the world through arts,
education, entertainment, sports, business and
technology. He co-founded Microsoft with Bill
Gates in 1976, remained the company’s chief
technologist until he left Microsoft in 1983, and
is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. In
addition, Allen’s multibillion dollar investment
portfolio includes stakes in technology, media
and content companies. Allen also owns the