CT Gov. John Rowland and the Patriots "reached a final
agreement Sunday for a new stadium in Hartford that cuts the
state's risk by $4.5 million annually and virtually assures
legislative approval on Tuesday," according to Christopher
Keating of the HARTFORD COURANT. Incoming House Speaker
Moira Lyons, who had raised "serious concerns" about the
agreement, said yesterday she now "supports" the stadium
deal. Lyons: "I'm pleased with the changes." Rowland,
legislative leaders and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft agreed
to reduce the state's maximum guarantee on unsold luxury
boxes and club seats to $13M annually from an initial
guarantee of $17.5M annually for 30 years. The original
$5,000 per season cost on club seats has also been reduced
to $4,000, including year-round restaurant privileges and a
health-club membership. Rowland "sealed" the deal with
Kraft by telephone yesterday. The agreement also contains a
"strengthened exit penalty" if the Patriots decide to leave
Hartford after the stadium is built. In this event, the
team "would be forced to pay the remaining unpaid costs of
building the stadium, plus money that had been expected in
state coffers if the team had remained" in Hartford
(HARTFORD COURANT, 12/14). In Boston, Gregg Krupa reports
that the bill will have the Patriots pay the state "for all
of the benefits the team has received and the state has
derived from the stadium if the Krafts ever sell the team or
leave the state." It will also guarantee "only" 50% of the
cost of the final 75 to 100 luxury boxes, $2.5M savings on
the potential cost of the guarantee (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/14).
GROSSED OUT? The deal's completion comes one day after
Will McDonough reported that the NFL's most recent audit
"shows" that the Patriots rank second to the Cowboys among
the 30 teams in Excluded Defined Gross Revenues. The EDGR,
one of two major sources of cash flow in the league, is
"mostly" money earned by stadium owners from parking,
concessions, ads and signage. Defined Gross Revenues (DGR)
is money from TV and radio deals and ticket sales. The
NFL's CBA entitles players to 64% of the DGR and a smaller
share of the EDGR. The Cowboys take in around $40M a year
from Texas Stadium, putting them $15M ahead of their
"nearest competitor," the Patriots. McDonough: "Therefore,
for the Patriots to say they have to move out of Foxborough
and get a new stadium because they do not make enough money
here to compete is a farce." The NFL has said "for years"
that no team "should be allowed to relocate if it is being
supported by its fans." McDonough: "The Patriots have not
played to an empty seat in five years. If that isn't
supporting a team, what is" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/12).
POSITIVE PIECE: Kraft was the subject of a positive
Sunday profile by the HARTFORD COURANT's Pazniokas & Garber,
who wrote that the Boston press has "portrayed" Kraft as
"humble and egotistical, moral and hardhearted [and] a
victim and a villain." Kraft, on keeping the team in the
family: "If [my] boys choose to keep it, it will remain in
the family. As long as it keeps them together. If it's
divisive, then I recommend we don't hold it." Northeastern
Univ. Dir for the Study of Sports in Society Richard
Lapchick called Kraft "a model owner" (COURANT, 12/13).