The Patriots could sign a "tentative deal" to move the
team to RI "as early as today," according to Tina Cassidy of
the BOSTON GLOBE. Sources close to the deal tell Cassidy
that RI's proposed contribution to help the team build a new
stadium has increased to "as much as" $157M, "far above" the
$80-120M first projected. Cassidy's sources also say that
the deal "would prohibit" team Owner Robert Kraft "from
negotiating with any other community, including" Foxboro,
although "it was not clear" whether there was a time limit
on the exclusivity clause. Cassidy adds that a bill being
put together by Foxboro officials "now includes only" $50M
in infrastructure improvements around Foxboro Stadium
(BOSTON GLOBE, 9/23). In Providence, Scott MacKay reports
that RI Gov. Lincoln Almond "will likely decide sometime
this afternoon" whether to go ahead with the negotiations or
"conclude that the stadium deal asks too much of state
taxpayers and opt out." MacKay also reports that Kraft has
asked that a deal with Foxboro "be sweetened by about" $20M,
with the extra money being used by the state to purchase
land around Foxboro stadium. The state would then "lease it
back" to the team (Providence JOURNAL-BULLETIN, 9/23).
DOUBLE TAKE? Almond's administration "acknowledged
yesterday" that the annual payments on the state's reported
$135M share of the deal "would come from" its general fund,
according to Christopher Rowland of the Providence JOURNAL-
BULLETIN. RI State Senate Majority Leader Paul Kelly "is
calling for a nonbinding referendum" on the stadium, while
State House Finance Committee Chair Antonio Pires said the
deal seems to "fly in the face" of Almond's pledge not to
expose taxpayers to risk (JOURNAL-BULLETIN, 9/23).
