CT Gov. John Rowland "has offered to build a stadium"
for the Patriots as part of a $350M development project in
downtown Hartford, according to Mike Allen of the N.Y.
TIMES. Under the terms being discussed, Patriots Owner
Robert Kraft "would not have to pay any money upfront." The
state would then finance construction through bond sales and
the Patriots would use the stadium rent-free. In return,
the team would give the state 10% of all revenue from
tickets, parking and concessions. One source said that the
discussions appear to be on a "very fast track" and that
they "are likely to be resolved one way or the other in a
matter of days." Other sources said that following their
lunch Monday, Rowland and Kraft went to CT's Legislative
Office Building and "went door to door to answer questions
from legislative leaders." Allen writes that should an
agreement be reached, a special session of the State
Legislature "would likely be held in December to vote." The
$350M pricetag could include a convention center and other
projects (N.Y. TIMES, 11/18). In Hartford, Keating & Davis
write that "a growing number of officials were expressing
optimism" the team would move to Hartford. Rowland and
Kraft did not talk on Tuesday and no meetings were scheduled
for today. CBS affil WFSB-TV reported that the stadium
would cost between $300-400M (HARTFORD COURANT, 11/18).
FROM BOSTON: In a front-page story in the BOSTON GLOBE,
Tina Cassidy writes that news of the meeting between Kraft
and Rowland "reverberated" through the MA capital. Gov.
Paul Cellucci: "We have [stadium] bills pending, but there
has to be a willingness on the House's side to try to find
some common ground" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/18). MA Senate
President Thomas Birmingham was "pessimistic" yesterday:
"We've taken our best shot at it" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/18).
