NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue visits Boston today as
"part of a campaign to keep" the Patriots in MA, but it
"appears the team will stick with its stadium deal in
Hartford," unless MA can "quickly" top CT's offer, according
to Tina Cassidy of the BOSTON GLOBE. But sources close to
the situation say "that will be difficult." Yesterday, MA
House Speaker Thomas Finneran "stood firm in his stance
against the state buying land around the team's current
stadium" in Foxboro and leasing it back to Patriots Owner
Robert Kraft. He "also remains opposed to using taxpayer
money to finance any part of a new facility other than
public infrastructure." All this was said while about 200
fans rallied outside the State House, with MA Gov. Paul
Cellucci joining the crowd chanting, "Save the Pats." But
Finneran was not moved: "A rally with a couple of hundred
people singing on or off key is not new information upon
which to commit taxpayers funds to private, profitable
businesses." Tagliabue will meet today with the Greater
Boston Chamber of Commerce Exec Committee and later will
visit with Finneran and Cellucci (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/23).
PA MODEL? The MA group looking to keep the Patriots in
the state is "hoping to use" the stadium plan approved in PA
as a model. That plan offered revenue guarantees from the
teams, who would then make up any shortfall. One source:
"There's been a lot of talk about the Pennsylvania model
behind closed doors" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/23).
LOCAL MOOD: A poll of 408 registered MA voters
conducted by RKM Research & Communications for the BOSTON
HERALD from Tuesday through yesterday shows that 57% support
using taxpayer money for road and other infrastructure
improvements around a stadium, but only 26% would support
using public funds to build a new stadium itself.
Meanwhile, 41% feel the Patriots will end up in CT, while
34% feel they will stay in MA (BOSTON HERALD, 4/23).
