Seahawks' Super Bowl Win Boosts Seattle Economy

Short-term increase in spending seen in retail, hospitality, and restaurants following team's playoff run and championship victory.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Seattle Seahawks' victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX is expected to provide a temporary economic boost to the Seattle area, particularly in sectors like retail, hospitality, and restaurants. Previous studies have shown that a Super Bowl win can lead to increased spending and per capita income in the winning team's home city, though the long-term effects are debated by economists.

Why it matters

As one of the most visible and successful professional sports franchises in the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks' championship run and Super Bowl win are seen as a source of civic pride that can translate into tangible economic benefits for local businesses, at least in the short term. However, the long-term impact of such sporting events on a city's economy remains a topic of debate among economists.

The details

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl appearance in 2025 could have generated $123.3 million in spending for the Kansas City metro area, while the Philadelphia Eagles' appearance that year could have driven $346.8 million in spending for the Philadelphia metro. Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Nguyen cited this report in predicting that the Seahawks' Super Bowl win would likely deliver a real economic boost for Seattle, with the city potentially seeing over $200 million in related spending. Some economists, like Victor Matheson of the College of the Holy Cross, have found evidence that a Super Bowl win can lead to a modest increase in per capita personal income in the winning city, potentially due to a 'feel-good' effect and increased worker productivity.

  • The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 9, 2026.
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce report referenced was published in 2025.

The players

Seattle Seahawks

The professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington that won Super Bowl LX.

New England Patriots

The professional American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts that lost to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

Joe Nguyen

The President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Victor Matheson

A professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts who is an expert in sports economics.

Shohei Ohtani

A professional baseball player who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that includes a massive deferred compensation structure to avoid California state income taxes.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, this is true – a Seahawks Super Bowl appearance will likely deliver a real economic boost for Seattle!”

— Joe Nguyen, President and CEO, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Email to The Center Square)

“There was a paper written about 20 years ago that is a peer-reviewed paper with actual real data, so this isn't, you know, totally made up, that suggested that teams that win the Super Bowl actually do experience an increase in per capita incomes over the course of the next year.”

— Victor Matheson, Professor of Economics, College of the Holy Cross (Phone interview with The Center Square)

The takeaway

While the short-term economic boost from the Seahawks' Super Bowl win is expected, the long-term impact on Seattle's economy remains uncertain. Economists continue to debate the true economic benefits of major sporting events for host cities, with some studies suggesting modest increases in spending and productivity, while others caution against overestimating the effects.