After a few trips to the Super Bowl and hosting talent like Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman, it might come as a surprise to modern 12s that none of it would have happened if Seahawks fans hadn’t come together 20 years ago.
“In 2017, it’s hard to imagine the Pacific Northwest without the Seahawks to root for,” said King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “The Seahawks are here today not only because Paul Allen stepped up to purchase the team, but because volunteers and voters came together to support funding for a new stadium.”
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On Monday, the county council took time to honor the 20th anniversary of Save Our Seahawks — the statewide effort to keep the football team in Seattle.
Councilmember von Reichbauer is credited with convincing Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to purchase the Seahawks in 1997. He’s among a handful of leaders who worked to keep the team from being sold and moved to California. At the time, the Kingdome was known more for its falling ceiling than the games it hosted. The team’s previous owner Ken Behring was ready to move the Seahawks to Los Angeles. When that proved troublesome, he opted to put the team up for sale. Allen was interested in taking over ownership, but not without a new place for the team to play.
Governor Gary Locke appointed a Kingdome Task Force to look into the problems with the Kingdome, and the potential for a new baseball venue. Then state senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (currently a King County council member) was on that task force. She also helped with the legislation that put Referendum 48 to voters to provide funding for a new stadium, earning her the nickname around Olympia as “Senator Jock.”
Fans rallied. Among them was Mark Collins who founded Save Our Seahawks. The group supported Referendum 48 and pushed for the deal that would keep the football team in town. Voters passed the financing deal with 56 percent approval in 1997.
Monday’s official recognition by the council states:
WHEREAS, King County's greatness lies not in our buildings, businesses and institutions, but rather in the spirit, character and unity of our people; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Seahawks and Seahawks fans bring together our community beyond just game days, as the organization and many individual players work on and fund important projects and charities throughout the County, as children find important role models for success, and as fans transcend their differences and unite with one very loud purpose; and
WHEREAS, Seahawk fans are the best in all professional sports with a rich history: their deafening roar causes earthquakes, breaks noise records and exerts such demonstrable force on the playing field that they were named the 12th MAN, known also as the 12s; and the Seahawks organization has awarded the fans their own jersey and subsequently retired it, awarded them a game ball for causing so many false starts and missed field goals, and now raise a flag in their honor before each home game; and
WHEREAS, in 1996 our community almost lost this treasured heritage when he-who-shall-not-be-named attempted to move the Seahawks to California, thereby stoking the 12th MAN's fury and power as Seahawks' fans united like never before to defeat this enemy; and
WHEREAS, the most dedicated Seahawks fans came together to give voice to the 12th MAN, as Mark Collins founded Save Our Seahawks and did what he promised in his legendary 1995 letter to the former owner, joining with his fellow 12s Jennifer Collins, Patti Hammond, Paula Jellison, Dean Olsby, Cindy Olsby, Rod Long, Bev Hauptli, Juan Cotto, Mick McHugh, Vinnie Richichi, Bruce Strothers, Damon Huard, Mike Huston, and Mike Gastineau, together leading countless other dedicated fans in a grassroots effort that will forever define the spirit of the 12s; and
WHEREAS, with the help of dedicated and capable staff like Mike Flood and Bert Kolde, Paul Allen stepped into the breach to take the reins of ownership, making a huge commitment and contribution to our County; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer played a major role in convincing Paul Allen to purchase the team and brokered essential agreements, and Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles in her role then as State Senator and who became known as Senator Jock, helped get the Legislature to approve the legislation placing Referendum 48 on the ballot, with then-Governor Gary Locke signing the measure; and
WHEREAS, Washington voters passed Ref. 48 on June 17, 1997, to save the Seahawks by authorizing the stadium that stands today;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize the20th Anniversary of Saving Our Seahawksand extend our gratitude to everyone who helped keep the team in Seattle, furthering a tradition of excellence and community spirit, and uniting the people of King County long into the future.
DATED this thirtieth day of October, 2017.
Cox Media Group
