Thank You Mr. Kraft - New England Patriots nearly became the St. Louis Stallions

From pft

New England Patriots nearly became the St. Louis Stallions

“James Orthwein, a St. Louis native, bought the Patriots from Victor Kiam in 1992 with the intent of moving the team to St. Louis, where the Patriots would have become the Stallions. As illustrated by the attached photo, the wheels already were in motion for the change to be made.

But there was a problem. The Patriots had a lease at Foxboro Stadium that ran through 2001, and the owner of the stadium (Robert Kraft) refused to let the Patriots out.

“People have offered me all sorts of money for the lease,” Kraft said at the time. “But I let it be known that I wouldn’t sell at any price.”

With Orthwein blocked from moving and unwilling to hold the team through the expiration of the lease, he sold the team to Kraft.”

Can’t wait for the “krafty Bob” idiots.

I like a story with a “Happy Ending”.

203Pat said:

Can’t wait for the “krafty Bob” idiots.

Click to expand...

Why talk about something new when we can keep talking about the same, single good thing Kraft ever did for the team ad nauseam.

Thank you Mr. Kraft -

Kraft demanded a $15 discount if he purchased the Patriots before 10 AM, which is clearly the best time of the day to get jerked off by LuLu/Mingbi, who he thought he had something serious with. Oh I’m sorry, this was about the time he purchased the Patriots and not about the time he purchased the illegal *, lied about it, and then ruined Tom Brady’s final Patriots season by releasing a Hall of Fame receiver who wouldn’t pay his “victim” $2 million. Oh, and great job hiring Goodell, kissing his ass, and letting Brady get railroaded by him.

Jlaff said:

Why talk about something new when we can keep talking about the same, single good thing Kraft ever did for the team ad nauseam.

Click to expand...

Single good thing? Hiring Belichick doesn’t count?

Jlaff said:

Why talk about something new when we can keep talking about the same, single good thing Kraft ever did for the team ad nauseam.

Click to expand...

Financing a new stadium without taxpayer money. Hiring Belichick. Staying out of the way. Helping end the lockout. Basically being the catalyst for the last two decades of dominance.

Ask Cowboys, Bengals, Redskins, Browns, Jets, and Raiders fans if they would switch owners. Something tells me they would.

Boomer B said:

Single good thing? Hiring Belichick doesn’t count?

Click to expand...

1 - No PSLs.Kraft could have bled the fans dry like Jets owner Woody Johnson.
2 - Road Playoff games Kraft is accessible to fans and has given away 2 tickets on multiple occasions.
3 - Kraft is always out in front doing good for the Jewish community.
4 - BK is the force behind Pats players giving back to those less fortunate.
5 - Very few bad apples have played for the Pats during Krafts ownership.

Victor Kiam would have kept AB

Negative: will not remove his head from Goodell’s ass.
This is the big negative over the last 12-13 years for the team, a player and the fans. Just not his wallet.

It doesn’t make up for releasing AB

Froob said:

Victor Kiam would have kept AB

Click to expand...

Victor Kiam would have texted AB’s accuser asking what she thought of AB’s Patriot missile.

Irving Fryar

AB could not carry his jock strap.

Kraft did a really nice thing that not so coincidentally was going to likely be the more profitable option long term. How long must we continue to thank him for it.

VectorPrime said:

Kraft did a really nice thing that not so coincidentally was going to likely be the more profitable option long term. How long must we continue to thank him for it.

Click to expand...

You do realize that the previous owner was going to move the team because it wasn’t profitable to stay here?

203Pat said:

Financing a new stadium without taxpayer money. Hiring Belichick. Staying out of the way. Helping end the lockout. Basically being the catalyst for the last two decades of dominance.

Ask Cowboys, Bengals, Redskins, Browns, Jets, and Raiders fans if they would switch owners. Something tells me they would.

Click to expand...

You're wrong - taxpayer's kicked in to the tune of $72M in road in infrastructure improvements to Route 1 and the general area that were NECESSARY in order to build Gillette Stadium and the adjacent Jonathan City. This does not include the $40-50M cost of Krafty Bob's new train line to Gillette complete with daily trips inbound/outbound. So it looks like Krafty Bob has gotten close to a $125M kiss from us MA taxpayers....facts matter

203Pat said:

You do realize that the previous owner was going to move the team because it wasn’t profitable to stay here?

Click to expand...

yeah because the team was garbage. That’s why I said long term. Kraft correctly realized that if he could turn things around and field a competitive team that New England would be a larger and more profitable market than St Louis.

Fans of teams with good owners, seemingly have no idea what having a good owner means for the franchise. The Pats, prior to Kraft owning the team, their first 34 season, went 225-276-9 (.450 win percentage) and had ONE home playoff game in those 34 years.

Since Kraft became owner, in 26 seasons, 324-139-0 (.700 win percentage), 27 home playoff games, TWENTY SEVEN home playoff games, and I don't have to go over everything else, but they've gone to 10 Super Bowls during his ownership.

Good owners make a HUGE difference. I have seen the difference (been a fan since 1975). In hockey, I'm a NY Islander's fan, they had ****ty, bush league ownership for 30+ years until their current ownership came along. The owners hired a championship GM, championship head coach, and are building a new arena. This doesn't guarantee winning it all, but it certainly gives the fans the feeling that the owners care about the team, and are willing to do what it takes to win.

FCB02062 said:

You're wrong - taxpayer's kicked in to the tune of $72M in road in infrastructure improvements to Route 1 and the general area that were NECESSARY in order to build Gillette Stadium and the adjacent Jonathan City. This does not include the $40-50M cost of Krafty Bob's new train line to Gillette complete with daily trips inbound/outbound. So it looks like Krafty Bob has gotten close to a $125M kiss from us MA taxpayers....facts matter

Click to expand...

So he footed the bill for the stadium. Obviously there’s going to be infrastructure changes needed for any major building especially in such a rural area. There are no PSL’s to season ticket holders and I’m sure he has boosted the economy over $125M worth over the span of 26 years.