The CT legislature voted "decisively" yesterday to
spend $374M to build a downtown riverfront football stadium
for the Patriots at the proposed Adriaen's Landing site,
according to Puleo & Keating of the HARTFORD COURANT. The
Senate voted 27-8 in favor of the project and the House
voted 97-49. Despite "fiery speeches" on the House floor,
the "excitement" surrounding the team's relocation proved
too much for an opposition that was "scattered and
unorganized" (HARTFORD COURANT, 12/16). In N.Y., Mike Allen
writes that a group of House Democrats "failed" in their
effort to obtain the stadium's naming rights, which will be
worth "tens of millions" to the team (N.Y. TIMES, 12/16).
In Boston, Tina Cassidy writes that lawmakers, "apparently
swayed by last-minute changes to the bill and desperate for
a way to remake this insurance capital ... surprised
observers who had been predicting a close tally." Among
"last-minute alterations" to the bill was a revocation of
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft's tax-exempt status for his
planned NFL retail and virtual-reality pavilion, and an
extension of the time frame for construction and
environmental permits (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16). But some
amendments "benefited" Kraft, including the "broadening" of
circumstances under which the Patriots could break their
lease. Also, Kraft can also "boost revenues by increasing
the number of premium seats" at the stadium, pending
approval from the governor's office (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16).
NO TEARS IN BOSTON TODAY: In a front page story in the
BOSTON GLOBE, Lehigh & Cassidy write an extensive analysis
of Kraft's effort to keep the team in Boston. During
negotiations with MA, "even" former Gov. William Weld and
his "once-supportive" administration became "annoyed" by
Kraft, "who never seemed satisfied with the state's effort
-- and whose demanding demeanor and sharp tongue alienated
many who tried to help him." City officials were also
troubled by their relationship with the Krafts. One "top-
level official" says there are two reasons the Patriots
didn't get a stadium deal in Boston: "It's very simple. ...
Reason Number One is that [Boston Mayor] Tom Menino hates
Bob Kraft. Reason Number Two is that [MA House Speaker] Tom
Finneran hates Bob Kraft" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16).
VARIED REACTION: The GLOBE's Tina Cassidy notes that
only one protester stood outside the CT Capitol yesterday
carrying a sign that read: "Welcome to the giveaway city"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16)....In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy puts the
Hartford stadium deal "among the bad ideas of this century
... alongside the Edsel, New Coke, 'Ishtar,' and Dan Rather
signing off his newscast with 'Courage.'" Shaughnessy:
"Courage and good sense were in short supply here last
night" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16)....MA Speaker Finneran: "If
Connecticut legislators want to be morons, they're welcome
to be morons" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/16)....IN Univ. Center
for Urban Policy and the Environment Dir Mark Rosentraub:
"People ought to recognize it's the worst publicly financed
stadium deal ever done. ... [T]hey have succeeded mostly in
making one owner very wealthy" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16)....
Hyatt Hotels Corp. is "bidding to operate the hotel to be
developed" by Kraft (Mike Swift, HARTFORD COURANT, 12/16).
WHAT MARKET? Patriots VP Jonathan Kraft said that his
family "wants [Patriots] games televised in Boston" and in
Boston, Will McDonough writes that Robert Kraft's presence
on the NFL TV Committee "would seem to ensure that the games
will be televised there" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16)....In N.Y.,
George Vecsey notes the league can "tolerate" another NFL
franchise moving to a smaller market because of the current
$18B TV deal (N.Y. TIMES, 12/16).
