MA state and Boston local officials will meet Monday in an
effort to make a decision on whether to move forward with a
convention center project, with or without a domed stadium as
part of a megaplex. MA House Speaker Charles Flaherty organized
the summit and "hopes the meeting will result in a decision to
move the project forward": "The thrust of the meeting is just to
get everyone to say: Are we going to do a megaplex? ... If so,
these are the conditions we're going to do it under. If not,
we'll do a convention center." Flaherty believes a breakthrough
is possible because this is the first time "key elected leaders"
will address the issue as a group (Richard Kindleberger, BOSTON
GLOBE, 1/19). Representatives of the Patriots and Red Sox were
not invited to the meeting. Flaherty: "I'm well aware of their
needs and druthers" (Phil Primack, BOSTON HERALD, 1/19).
GOODBYE FENWAY? Red Sox GM Dan Duquette said Wednesday his
team must move into a new facility "within the next decade."
Duquette told the Boston Chamber of Commerce that he'd like to
build a facility similar to Camden Yards (Mike Shalin, BOSTON
HERALD, 1/19).
