EYES ON PATRIOTS: In Boston, Will McDonough writes that
Bob McNair's interest in the Patriots gives team Owner
Robert Kraft "a new card to play if he so desires." McNair
spokesperson Chip Namias emphasized that McNair "hasn't
targeted the Patriots over any other team," while a source
close to Kraft said Kraft's focus is still on CT (BOSTON
GLOBE, 3/11). Dean Pagani, press secretary to CT Gov. John
Rowland, said yesterday that "everything is going forward"
with the Patriots' move to Hartford, and added, "We are
totally confident this project is going to happen"
(Providence JOURNAL, 3/11)....In Houston, John Williams
reports that McNair, in a letter to several NFL owners,
"offered to buy at least 30 percent of a team and move it to
Houston if a particular owner continued having problems
getting a new stadium deal" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/11).
OTHER NOTES: A study prepared by MBA students at the
Univ. of Ottawa found that Senators Chair Rod Bryden "will
be forced to sell" the team even if he gets tax breaks from
the Canadian government. The study "concluded" that the
team's financial picture would be "overwhelmed," even with
better concession deals and increased fan support, because
Ottawa's population "is too small" (CP, 3/11)....Quebec
Finance Minister Bernard Landry, when asked why the Montreal
Symphony Orchestra received a C$5M grant in Tuesday's
provincial budget and the Expos received no aid: "Ask a
first violinist and a first baseman how much they make and
you will have your answer" (CP, 3/11)....The NFL Giants
announced a ticket price increase of $5 for all seats next
season. Upper and lower tier seats will be $45 and
mezzanine seats will be $50 (N.Y. TIMES, 3/10)....The
MetroStars will be the first MLS team to open a retail store
and community room when their store opens in West New York,
NJ, later this month (MetroStars).
