If the Patriots' stadium deal in Foxboro "collapses,"
team Owner Robert Kraft "will sooner sell" the franchise
than "face another round of public haggling over a new home
for the team," according to "insiders" cited by Cosmo Macero
of the BOSTON HERALD. Kraft is "sending strong signals that
he'll scrap plans to build anew in Foxboro if local
opponents block his scheme for a special access road." A
special town meeting early next month will debate whether to
change local zoning rules to allow the road. Macero:
"Special town meetings, like the one Kraft faces, ... are
routinely stacked by whichever side can get more activists
out to vote." The Patriots "worry their perceived silent
majority of local supporters will be rendered useless by
apathy, potentially dooming the project in a most ironic and
unforseen fashion." Patriots COO Andy Wasynczuk: "This is a
critical vote" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/16). MA Gov. Paul Cellucci
called the access road "essential" to the stadium deal
developed by the team, league, state and town of Foxboro.
Cellucci: "It's not optional. It's crucial to the stadium.
... I don't think we're going to spend the $70 million on
this without it." Some Foxboro residents "remain opposed to
the access road, arguing it will destroy the rural character
of their neighborhood" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/16).
