CT is "preparing ... to buy a highly unusual" football
insurance policy, that would "cover the risk of unsold
luxury seats," according to Haar & Lubanko of the HARTFORD
COURANT. Fred Tanguay, a member of "the board that buys
insurance for state agencies," said that the policy would
last 10 years and "require a one-time premium" ranging from
$1-5M, "depending on what" it covered. Haar & Lubanko: "The
mention of the insurance policy calmed the nerves of once
fretful lawmakers" (Haar & Lubanko, HARTFORD COURANT, 12/21)
WHERE THERE'S A WILL: Under the header "Patriot Move In
Violation Of NFL Rules," the BOSTON GLOBE's Will McDonough
writes, "There is no way the Patriots should be allowed to
move to Hartford, and someone of stature in Massachusetts
should take a lawsuit to prevent it." McDonough cites the
"top two guidelines as laid down" by former Commissioner
Pete Rozelle concerning moving a franchise. The league
should not permit a move "(1) If the fans in a community are
supporting a team ... [and] (2) If the business community is
supporting the team." Patriots Owner Bob Kraft and his son,
Jonathan, are "on the record numerous times" saying that MA
would lose more than $10M a year if the team left.
McDonough: "The state should go after them for all that
money, times 30, the number of years on the Patriots' lease"
in CT (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/19). In Boston, Jim Baker quotes
"one high network official": "Boston will never have another
NFL team as long as Bob Kraft has the Patriots in Hartford.
He's one of the key five or six league leaders." The
official and a "rival" exec predicted Pats ratings in Boston
"will drop sharply after the move" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/20).
