Seahawks buyer Vinod Khosla apologizes after fans object to his Steelers loyalty
New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla faced backlash for admitting he still supports the Pittsburgh Steelers and posted an apology on social media.
The NFL gave unanimous consent to transfer ownership of the Seattle Seahawks from the Paul G. Allen estate to venture investor Vinod Khosla and his family for a record $9.6 billion. In his first press conference, Khosla disclosed that he immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s when the Pittsburgh Steelers were the league's dominant force and that he still follows each Steelers game. Seattle supporters, known as the 12th Man, reacted unfavorably, invoking the rivalry and the lingering pain of Super Bowl XL.
Some longtime fans likened the Steelers to other disliked rivals such as the Rams and 49ers. After the criticism spread, Khosla took to social media to apologize and reaffirm his loyalty to the Seahawks franchise.
Why it matters
Owner fan allegiance can shape team perception and affect community support.
In this story
