South Boston political leaders plan to take legal
action to stop the Patriots from finalizing a deal with
Massport to build a new stadium in the area, according to
Joe Battenfeld in the BOSTON HERALD. State Rep. Stephen
Lynch and other South Boston elected officials said they are
planning to file a lawsuit seeking a court injunction to
prevent Massport from leasing its land to Patriots Owner
Robert Kraft. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he'll oppose
the stadium if South Boston residents don't want it.
Menino: "Massport once again has ignored the community and
cut a deal" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/7). But sources "close to
the mayor" say that Menino is now more open-minded about the
stadium concept, according to Richard Chacon in the BOSTON
GLOBE. One official said Menino "believes that if a stadium
is going to be located in the city, the Massport site is a
comparatively attractive one." The stadium plan reportedly
hinges on a financing deal which would set aside "about"
6,000 club-style seats to be sold via ten-year licenses,
providing Kraft a guaranteed revenue stream for half of the
20-year financing period (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/7). Kraft: "If,
in the end, the people of South Boston are not behind it,
we're not going to do it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/9).
