Bob Kraft, Casino Mogul, Town Officials Hold Meetings In Foxboro
FOXBORO (CBS) - Patriots owner Robert Kraft played host to casino operator Steve Wynn during Sunday's game at Gillette Stadium.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports.
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Wynn and Kraft held a series of meetings Sunday with town officials and members of the Foxboro community to talk about Kraft's desire to lease land to Wynn for one of the three casinos approved by the state.
Before the game, Kraft and Wynn met with Foxboro Council Chairman Larry Harrington and two others. It was the first of five meetings with a group of long-standing members of the community, half of whom are opposed to a casino.
Harrington told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that Kraft was against a "racino" eight years ago, but this time it's different.
"And while he's tried for three years to build an office park here, there's just no interest in it because of the global economy. He looks at this as an opportunity to build a legacy for Foxboro," said Harrington.
Harrington says Wynn pushed this as more of a retail/entertainment complex. Under the plan, just 10 percent of the property would be a casino.
"That it'll be a beautiful hotel, it'll be a conference center, retail, and gambling would be a small piece," said Harrington.
Harrington said Kraft and Wynn believe the casino would create 10,000 construction jobs, 7,000 permanent jobs and bring in $15 million per year.
