Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said he will pay for a new
stadium for his team if the public supplies the land and other
support. His comments "stunned" the MA Megaplex Commission by
raising the idea of a privately financed facility, but Kraft's
aides later called the idea "completely theoretical" and said it
"was not under serious consideration" (Richard Kindleberger,
BOSTON GLOBE, 3/30). Still, his comments "added a new twist to
an already complicated" Megaplex debate. Kraft did not rule out
other options, such as renovating Foxboro Stadium or being part
of a downtown Megaplex, perhaps looking to "improve his image"
with legislators who have criticized him for asking for public
support. Red Sox officials, who have said they would are willing
to pay for a new home if the state provides the land, said they
would meet with Kraft. Red Sox VP John Buckley: "If there is
any possibility to side-by-side football and baseball stadiums,
that would be great." Commission members said if Kraft and the
Red Sox are willing to finance facilities themselves, the
commission would focus on a convention center alone, which is
what several "wanted to do anyway" (Phil Primack, BOSTON HERALD,
3/30). NFL VP/ Business and Football Development Roger Goodell
also addressed the commission, saying that communities that have
lost NFL teams "quickly came to understand the tremendous value
to the community of what they had lost after failing to respond
to the need for a new facility" (Martin Nolan, BOSTON GLOBE,
3/30). Goodell also floated the notion of a new Boston facility
hosting the Super Bowl (AP, 3/30).
