NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue visited Boston on
Friday to meet with city and state leaders in an effort to
prepare a viable plan to keep the Patriots in MA. On
Saturday, Macero & Silberman reported sources who said that
MA House Speaker Thomas Finneran "is now willing to move
beyond" the $57M worth of infrastructure work the House has
offered as its "best deal" for a Patriots stadium in
Foxboro. A new deal "would strip out a" $20M public payment
for land held by Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, which was the
"biggest stumbling block" for Finneran last year. That
would "clear the way for the state to chip in up to" $75M
for improving access to the Foxboro site. After meeting
with Finneran and MA Gov. Paul Cellucci on Friday, Tagliabue
said, "The challenge here is to develop an alternative (to
Hartford) that is ... realistic and sound. I think we're
getting to the point where differences are being narrowed"
(BOSTON HERALD, 4/24). The plan being considered would only
provide infrastructure improvements around the Foxboro site,
with no public money for the stadium itself. In return,
Kraft would build a $250M open-air stadium, partially funded
with a league loan backed by the sale of luxury seats
(BOSTON GLOBE, 4/24). Finneran was quoted as saying that
"there has been no talk of increasing the amount of state
infrastructure support at [Foxboro] to beyond the $57
million contemplated last year. I do, however, remain open
to further discussions." In Boston, Meg Vaillancourt wrote
that MA leaders were "increasingly optimistic" that their
"last-minute effort" to keep the team in MA will "succeed."
Leaders will now "launch a marketing campaign" in MA and RI
to secure commitments for luxury and club seats at a new
Foxboro stadium. Strong corporate support would "be an
important signal" to legislators and Kraft "that a stadium
deal could be put together" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/25).
GOING STRAIGHT TO OWNERS: MA group leader Paul Kirk Jr.
said his booster group did not plan to approach Kraft with
its stadium plan, but "would take its case directly to other
owners" when they meet in late May to discuss the Patriots'
proposed relocation (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24). On ESPN.com, Chris
Mortensen wrote that "it's difficult to envision league
owners" approving Kraft's move to CT when they meet next
month in Atlanta (ESPN.com, 4/24). Tagliabue, on Kraft's
willingness to turn down a more lucrative CT offer to stay
in MA: "He's part of a broader partnership called the
National Football League, and he has to eventually balance
the Patriots' interests with the league's interests." One
NFL source said, "Listen, the other owners aren't going to
force a bad deal on (Kraft). They know it has to be a good
deal, something he can live with" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/24).
IS HARTFORD SEEING IT SLIP AWAY? In Hartford, Jeff
Jacobs wrote, "In the coming days, we're going to find out
if the Patriots owner is a good businessman or a dishonest
rat." After his "little pep rally Friday in Boston,
Tagliabue ought to have the courage to come to Hartford this
week and meet [with CT leaders]. He ought to come and
really listen to this state" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/25).
