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CT FEELING PATRIOTIC: STATE FINALIZES DEAL WITH PATRIOTS

          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).  
     

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