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New Seahawks owner on moving the team: "Never say never"

The Seahawks' Lumen Field lease runs through 2032, with renewal options extending through 2062.

News

New Seahawks owner <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vinod Khosla" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/08/27/seahawks-sale-khosla-family-9-billion-allen-ownership" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/08/27/seahawks-sale-khosla-family-9-billion-allen-ownership" target="_self">Vinod Khosla</a> told Axios this week that he has no plans to move the team out of Seattle — but he &quot;will never say never.&quot; Why it matters: Seattleites, who are still stinging over the loss of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sonics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/03/26/seattle-officials-cheer-potential-return-of-sonics" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/03/26/seattle-officials-cheer-potential-return-of-sonics" target="_self">Sonics</a> nearly 20 years ago, have a strong interest in keeping the reigning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Super Bowl champs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-results-seahawks-patriots" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-results-seahawks-patriots" target="_self">Super Bowl champs</a> in town.

Washington's sick season appears to be starting early

ER visits are climbing as flu spreads early and Seattle wastewater shows high COVID activity.

Health

Winter may be months away, but cold season in Washington doesn&#x27;t seem to be waiting.Driving the news: Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are rising as October begins, while COVID is also showing up increasingly in wastewater and hospitals, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state data" data-vars-click-url="https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/diseases-and-chronic-conditions/communicable-disease-surveillance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard" data-vars-content-id="4656f36a-ef1f-45c1-8443-9b5c5d769aff" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s sick season appears to be starting early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/diseases-and-chronic-conditions/communicable-disease-surveillance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard" target="_blank">state data</a>.

Washington ranks third in U.S. for library checkouts

Library checkouts in Washington remain far above the national average.

In case you needed more evidence that we&#x27;re a state full of bookworms: Washington ranks third in the nation for public library checkouts per person, federal data shows.Why it matters: Libraries remain a heavily used public resource in Washington, whether readers are borrowing from shelves or screens.

Seattle ranks No. 4 among America's fittest cities

Seattle's parks, recreation access and residents' health helped put the city near the top.

Seattle ranks among America&#x27;s fittest cities, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="latest report" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" data-vars-content-id="0a684bc5-4556-48d9-b4f6-45920ce7bdb8" data-vars-headline="Seattle ranks No. 4 among America&#x27;s fittest cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" target="_blank">latest report</a> from the American College of Sports Medicine and the Elevance Health Foundation.The big picture: The rankings assess parks and recreation infrastructure, environmental conditions, residents&#x27; health indicators and other factors across the nation&#x27;s 100 biggest cities. <ul><li>Seattle came in at No. 4, </li></ul>

Seattle's peak fall colors may not arrive until November

Explore Fall puts Seattle's peak at Nov. 1–7, after leaves are expected to crest elsewhere nearby.

Fall has arrived in Seattle, but peak displays of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="autumn leaves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" target="_self">autumn leaves</a> aren&#x27;t expected here just yet.The big picture: Seattle is expected to see its most vibrant foliage <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nov. 1–7," data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-forecast?place=Seattle%2C+WA&amp;lat=47.60323&amp;lon=-122.33028" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-forecast?place=Seattle%2C+WA&amp;lat=47.60323&amp;lon=-122.33028" target="_blank">Nov. 1–7,</a> a bit later than most of the country, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.

Meet Pierce County's 12 new giant trolls

12 more of Thomas Dambo's whimsical sculptures arrive Oct. 15.

Things to Do

Pierce County is about to get trolled. What&#x27;s happening: Danish artist Thomas Dambo&#x27;s &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trolls: A Field Study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thomasdambo.com/works/afieldstudy" data-vars-content-id="d12af3fb-13f4-4928-98dc-edac81023de1" data-vars-headline="Meet Pierce County&#x27;s 12 new giant trolls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thomasdambo.com/works/afieldstudy" target="_blank">Trolls: A Field Study</a>&quot; opens Oct. 15, with eight of the 7- to 9-foot sculptures at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Trek Wildlife Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nwtrek.org/trolls/" data-vars-content-id="d12af3fb-13f4-4928-98dc-edac81023de1" data-vars-headline="Meet Pierce County&#x27;s 12 new giant trolls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nwtrek.org/trolls/" target="_blank">Northwest Trek Wildlife Park</a> and four at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Point Defiance Zoo &amp; Aquarium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pdza.org/trolls/" data-vars-content-id="d12af3fb-13f4-4928-98dc-edac81023de1" data-vars-headline="Meet Pierce County&#x27;s 12 new giant trolls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pdza.org/trolls/" target="_blank">Point Defiance Zoo &amp; Aquarium</a>.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Seattle

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="4145aa8a-f349-42c6-91bd-c9ae88b2864b" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Seattle&#x27;s Fremont neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Sip your way through Seattle's Northwest Tea Festival

A $25 pass gets you two days of tastings, lectures, workshops and a porcelain tasting cup.

Seattle&#x27;s biggest tea party is back as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Tea Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/09/26/northwest-tea-festival-washington-state" data-vars-content-id="48e58bbd-c5fa-4c0a-9a2b-b9f1ec308760" data-vars-headline="Sip your way through Seattle&#x27;s Northwest Tea Festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/09/26/northwest-tea-festival-washington-state" target="_self">Northwest Tea Festival</a> returns to Seattle Center this weekend.The details: More than 50 vendors and tea experts will fill the Exhibition Hall Saturday and Sunday with tastings, workshops, talks and plenty of tea wares to browse.

Grand Illusion Cinema will revive Seattle's Varsity Theatre

The beloved film nonprofit plans to reopen the shuttered Varsity Theatre.

The Grand Illusion Cinema, a U District institution that closed last year, will take over the neighborhood&#x27;s shuttered Varsity Theatre, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Seattle Times reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/seattles-grand-illusion-cinema-to-take-over-varsity-theatre/" data-vars-content-id="0d408ff5-3282-4c8d-8ebd-b172b4eda55b" data-vars-headline="Grand Illusion Cinema will revive Seattle&#x27;s Varsity Theatre" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/seattles-grand-illusion-cinema-to-take-over-varsity-theatre/" target="_blank">the Seattle Times reports</a>.Why it matters: The move gives the local film scene a boost after several theaters closed in recent years.

Seattle's Yarn Dragon is a feast of color and craft

Crafters can feel luxe fibers, revel in saturated colors and peek in on the yarn dyeing process.

Touching the merchandise isn&#x27;t just allowed at Yarn Dragon in Pioneer Square. It&#x27;s kind of the point.Why it matters: As brick-and-mortar yarn and fabric stores disappear around Seattle, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Yarn Dragon" data-vars-click-url="https://yarndragon.com/" data-vars-content-id="02a2cd16-4f7d-45f7-b6ba-3bef75f04b0e" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s Yarn Dragon is a feast of color and craft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://yarndragon.com/" target="_blank">Yarn Dragon</a> is betting there&#x27;s still something the internet can&#x27;t replicate: seeing the colors, feeling the fibers and maybe even watching the yarn being dyed.

5 garden jobs to tackle in Seattle right now

Warm soil, cooler days and returning rain create ideal conditions for planting and repairing yards.

September is prime time to tackle garden troublemakers, fill bare spots and put down new roots before rain settles in.Why it matters: Warm soil, cooler days and returning rain make this month ideal for planting, repairing damage and getting ahead of next year.

Spot three bright planets in the early morning sky

Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will form a long arc across the early morning sky this month.

Early risers can spot three bright planets stretching across the morning sky for the rest of the month, and they won&#x27;t need a telescope to see them.Why it matters: Saturn, Mars and Jupiter can all be spotted, weather permitting, in September&#x27;s early morning hours, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per EarthSky" data-vars-click-url="https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/" data-vars-content-id="a38a085c-6af2-44f5-90f9-f136a10cafa3" data-vars-headline="Spot three bright planets in the early morning sky" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/" target="_blank">per EarthSky</a>.

Minigolf at Olympic Sculpture Park mixes art and views

Local artists created the whimsical Olympic Sculpture Park course, complete with Elliott Bay views.

<figure><img alt="Sunny urban park with a large stacked-rock sculpture and minigolf station at left, and a tall red arched sculpture right. A child in purple plays mini-golf on green turf, with modern buildings, trees, and a blue sky." height="4284" id="421b1390-b7d9-4df2-971b-b3a784b42ece" src="https://images.axios.com/k4buw3AzVTGJfwqcUqIO6ttkb5Y=/2026/08/20/1787193851993.jpeg" width="5712"/><figcaption>Art, views and minigolf at Olympic Sculpture Park. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios</figcaption></figure>It’s hard not to love Seattle when strolling through the Olympic Sculpture Park, surrounded by art and views of Elliott Bay. Now, you can add <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="minigolf" data-vars-click-url="https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/events/mini-golf-at-olympic-sculpture-park-jun-17-26?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23872437095&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAolTx1PRWphKuXkRbHS3cOqPnJMyf&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtClUIugzJrY-9V3LloszpN9lr6JTelIk1JSnS0J8B9iYp8Ir3GPbWjhoCUV4QAvD_BwE" data-vars-content-id="17ca63f6-880e-47e6-918e-d4aba56fd182" data-vars-headline="Minigolf at Olympic Sculpture Park mixes art and views" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/events/mini-golf-at-olympic-sculpture-park-jun-17-26?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23872437095&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAolTx1PRWphKuXkRbHS3cOqPnJMyf&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtClUIugzJrY-9V3LloszpN9lr6JTelIk1JSnS0J8B9iYp8Ir3GPbWjhoCUV4QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">minigolf</a> to the experience.Why it matters: Playing on an artist-designed course at one of the city’s coolest outdoor spaces is peak Seattle summer — and you’ve still got a few weeks to give it a try.

Inside Seattle's dark serial killer exhibit

The immersive Pacific Place exhibit explores notorious killers, their victims and the people who caught them.

Culture

Seattle&#x27;s &quot;Mind of a Serial Killer&quot; exhibit blends museum, immersive attraction and true-crime spectacle to fuel our morbid curiosity.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="traveling exhibit" data-vars-click-url="https://mindofaserialkillerexpo.com/seattle/" data-vars-content-id="264b530b-ef26-4e0f-b4ae-77af07b4bdff" data-vars-headline="Inside Seattle&#x27;s dark serial killer exhibit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mindofaserialkillerexpo.com/seattle/" target="_blank">traveling exhibit</a> at Pacific Place explores notorious serial killers — including several with Pacific Northwest ties — their victims and the investigators who tried to understand and catch them.

Things to Do 🗓

Seattle's peak fall colors may not arrive until November

Meet Pierce County's 12 new giant trolls

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Seattle

Sip your way through Seattle's Northwest Tea Festival

Grand Illusion Cinema will revive Seattle's Varsity Theatre