A lawyer for the Kraft Group "drafted zoning changes for the town of Foxborough this summer that would have allowed construction of casinos on property the company owns across from Gillette Stadium, raising the prospect that one of the state’s most powerful families could have a role in the Commonwealth’s plans for expanded gambling," according to a front-page piece by Noah Bierman of the BOSTON GLOBE. Patriots Owner Robert Kraft and his family "would face a number of significant hurdles if they choose to pursue a casino or sell property to a developer." NFL rules "bar franchises from owning casinos," and the pending Massachusetts casino bill "requires that any casino developer win approval in a local ballot initiative before winning a license, something that could prove a very tough sell in Foxborough." While the Krafts said that they "'have absolutely no interest' in giving up control of their property across from the stadium that is needed for parking, they did not specifically rule out interest in a casino." Patriots Exec Dir of Media Relations Stacey James said that the company "does not believe a slot facility 'is the right fit for our site'" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/18).
