Robert Kraft on Patriots Monday

[2:15] ..." Think about it they've been. Hello -- in the five Super Bowls than. The oldest -- Super Bowls and I don't know twelve years."...

[11:07] ..." we you you have a unique relationship with some of your players Richard Seymour -- that chair. And talk to us about he and his wife travelling to Israel with you and and being baptized. -- in the Jordan River and talked about how emotional it was for him. I would think that that relationship is so rewarding in so many occasions and that was probably one of them at the same time. It's got to hurt more when a guy like Tom Brady gets hurt and you watch him you know limping off the football field and is done for the year. Well."...

[12:21] ..." and that hurts you know. Think -- Difficult it is I chose Rodney Harrison and action listen to them want to -- one of the programs here I don't know which one. You know he was"...

[0:00]" We are very happy to it to begin our owners series this week welcome. And and joining us as he has in the past is not only the owner of the Patriots by our host when we get to use these nice studios here Robert Kraft as Willis can you hear us okay."

[0:14]" Now his I don't think it's hit balls -- just with those on. That switch on the side. And there are. Maybe as volumes. He's got Novoa now now. Now I can hear all the little Lewis who has an -- all the wonderful things avoid that if they are doing great how Rio good thank you very good are you doing very good how are you doing there again after. After yesterday after a long day at the office yesterday. Well first of all on."

[0:47]" Only feel -- about things. If I can't do anything to help improve or you know we've we've had a pretty good run here. For a couple years. Since what was it November slicks. Real lost again Andersen's report in the new field actually. When my grandchildren at the end of the game along -- just thinking you know. My grand kids are grown up in the era. So little bit. Unrealistic. With the expectations no and I happen it'll happen. -- coach. Norman was more. Tore up for an upset with what happened and I was I can assure you that carried through. Last night than this morning. Let us know or bonuses to -- And I think fans see them in the future so. Here. That's yesterday's news and like this so you run up the newspapers with the good position let's throw that one away and forget about it."

[1:58]" Newspaper writers love to hear that kind of talk. Rapidly -- the fish and in line the birdcage and all kinds that you ever give your grandkids that talks you listen and and I remember when Patriots were. Playing at Fenway Park it. Not there yet but not not yet but it."

[2:15]" Think about it they've been. Hello -- in the five Super Bowls than. The oldest -- Super Bowls and I don't know twelve years."

[2:30]" And that's I think some teams -- gone some purple. So it creates an expectation but it's a nice one you know we've we've been able. Hopefully impact the culture here -- Fourteen seasons this is the beginning of our fifteenth season. We had an unbelievable weekend here with him in the hall of famers comeback and analysts. Really early special. You think you know. Some of them would go like nick Buoniconti who was. Remember playing in the sixties he's he's in the Patriots Hall of Fame the Dolphins -- In the camp and the whole thing he came back here. He's done -- red jacket with great pride is both he and his wife. Were so could be back to for the week and and saw the special camaraderie that's been created here and you know Saturday afternoon when -- How discipline in the plaza for a few thousand. And -- opposed Maria. Saying. -- you know meticulously we have seen them steers and from and you know -- like a mini camps and having just of the privilege. Under interpret gave me the room and during the speech and -- him involved playing. We sort of try to create here and it's them. A wonderful wonderful we can just it was a real it's there. Yes the -- overwhelmed all of -- Want to think what happened this week. Friday night in and was very special. And each of the players good. Told stories and you know those of us remember Ben Coates who is this year is inducted. We don't remember him as a man of many words. He was on Hitler. And he he he's smart. And you know he's got countries so is cut. Way above them worries from a small. But. He was really good and course value and a he's when he gets go."

[4:51]" We had to leave here Friday about what we did Patriots Friday we had hog command talking about the opening of the hall at Patriot place which is open of the public today I guess. And and he was talking about you know you can have a you can have a program. To make money. He said but but the crafts program puts winning first and then making money second winning championships -- first. On the on the on the list of things to do here and he said that's the difference here."

[5:19]" Well we've been blessed to have a -- goes to pay your bills so. You know. Making money flawless twenty years never been the primary implement the thing we do we. Because if you do the right thing and you give people quality product. You're really try to manager businesses. For the difficult times and if you do that by giving quality. And and to your best of their ability and the best of your ability integrity in the product you give people will stay with you mostly -- you in the tough times and and in the and the reward of winning. -- so much greater the psychic income from so much greater than. Making a few extra dollars. Uncle Sam -- take an awful and you know. We. With and I don't mean to be cavalier. Because we also won every project we do understand -- so. And and that's very important to us that we of the disciplines to do that. -- in the business of professional sports. The bottom line should be winning and if you win everything else will fall."

[6:30]" I do have a nit pick though have in this. Regarding money. The pre season we've heard a lot of talk -- the pre season going from. Four games to two games. Which makes a lot of sense. Why it's why across NFL our season ticket holders required. To pay full season money for a pre season product. Well. You know -- different ways to. -- like this what we could do. Is take increment Oman and spread it over the first eight games it's it's coming out of the same place."

[7:10]" It's going to come out of the same place I think that. Owning a season ticket. And I understand your point and I'm not taking them lightly and part of the reason we're doing things to try to. Maybe the pre season as meaningful as is whether it should be two or three. There's a certain -- revenue. That is necessary to come and you know we could. Billups create tickets and people would still. You know do we're well over 50000. People on the waiting so. I'm sure they would take. -- just the way things have been."

[7:54]" Yeah -- it isn't the point is just we've seen it here and understand it from a coaching standpoint expressing gain for the pre season game. You don't -- top players in there. Because you want of around for the regular seasons so there are times when coach Phillips -- equal. Say okay you're not going to see this starting out and see that start but since you're not seeing any. A real football game you're seeing a watered down product I think it's unfair to pay. Big time money for practice games."

[8:24]" Well for those of us or if I actually enjoy those skins because I enjoy singing. Players. -- to that you Cecilia and the development and so but. If you're you're a season ticket Kohler your partner. So you're committing so many dollars to come and watch games. And you know one of things we to think about it is if we reduce. And we to the other day so that would that make you feel are you a season ticket I'm not a season ticket office so you're just being a member of the medial and meant."

[9:01]" Well and I don't know wouldn't say a member of the media I I look at it this way. And I -- footballers matches as that you got as a football. But. There's a big difference between pre season game number two and game number five game number six in the regular season. And I don't complained about the prices of the regular season tickets because. -- you you get what you pay for the product has been good at it I'd just like it's a practice game. It's not the real deal I think the prices should reflect that that's just my opinion even if I weren't in the media I would say it."

[9:36]" I don't know and I am I'm just glad that your -- well at. I do. I understand what you're saying and it's a legitimate point and I'm Noah. Minimizing. And I'm garrison was in the and the season ticket is going to be -- dollars. So and so would you feel better. If those prices reduced and and then and other animals. Over the eight games."

[10:06]" I would feel better if he didn't. It if you took a certain percentage out. He just to if you just took a piece of that pie in the season ticket and then the prices that is lower overall not about I don't I'm not as a that I read distributing the money."

[10:22]" So then you're going to come with a million common in the locker room. And I'm gonna say that the honorable Bill Hall who would like well you players' strike because they get 60% of the gross. You're likely to take a little bit less. So that we can reduce prices increases."

[10:39]" I would make the same case to the players. On behalf of of fans. Who are who who have to pay the weight who have to. Who have become -- put them I would -- that the players sore. And if you can convince them are now if you notice now okay now we're I don't know I. That's a different argument -- remember that it is on the sideline and I think --"

[11:07]" Yeah we you you have a unique relationship with some of your players Richard Seymour -- that chair. And talk to us about he and his wife travelling to Israel with you and and being baptized. -- in the Jordan River and talked about how emotional it was for him. I would think that that relationship is so rewarding in so many occasions and that was probably one of them at the same time. It's got to hurt more when a guy like Tom Brady gets hurt and you watch him you know limping off the football field and is done for the year. Well."

[11:40]" Any player. That that happens to do -- You know you see on the work in the offseason. Work out some pre season. And in excuse me and you know assist there it's. You know it's one over the South Park so -- game it's one of the verbal -- while no one can never predict. Exactly what's going to. You know you say TO well if you room grace. You know happened war. You know always want to let them matter. And that and that hurts you know. Think -- Difficult it is I chose Rodney Harrison and action listen to them want to -- one of the programs here I don't know which one. You know he was saying you know he's -- heart was when he was sitting idly. And and you know. Like Thomas who has supported him text him. And dealing with just. Be you know alone in private -- you know of the game and the boredom and and negativity that comes with just sitting -- and are you have to being mentally strong them. You know the physical part of this game and -- and -- gets hurt. Is is really very difficult part but as one of the reasons that there's probably parity in this league as well. Well."

[13:16]" We are able to see as we drive down here a completely different. Fox four or different nearly completely different Gillette Stadium when you first opened it it was just the stadium. Now I have other things around. What was the motivation. For building around it would what do you want to see happen here."

[13:34]" Well you must remember we come here every day."

[13:40]" We have. You know I just actually. Fox sports and and DirecTV down here to gentleman and we're talking about how this -- to be. Actor. Bottles -- racetrack and stables. And betrayal park. And oh. Over the last few years we've definitely. Worked very hard to try to change. Change with this hole locations about people when Tom Foxborough. Having great tour family and and we've been able apart with them and you know we knew since. The stadium here and the parking. And the infrastructure we've we've paid for everything in the state did bonds but we re paying them. There was no one public dollars a year or no beer sales. And I'm pretty proud of them and unlike any other city. In America but we've had to make a huge investment. In these 22000. Parking inspires us. And for us to be able to compete competitively. On the road we -- find other ways that we could do things and developed things. -- laws to generate the cash -- to support this investment privately. And anything we do in any of our businesses we'd like it to be unique and distinctive. And so we came up. For with a regional destination plan and my son Jonathan. Has been real -- portions. In terms of bringing in unique just different situations and I just taught took the fox. Gentlemen around and they couldn't believe our our Hall of Fame and I hope all of our audience get to see -- never. Seen a building like that but the showcase life that are I don't know. I went there actually fifteen of our players were there with there was some significant others were always to me and and it's an amazing and you know and then the deluxe theaters with the picks in its own -- but to think of --"

[15:58]" Actually I remembered some of the songs. So really it was good good. The Brothers really love that they were there -- he's -- I knew I knew some of the music."

[16:13]" And -- stated we started the whole so that was a good aren't going to. And we actually saw -- another one when we're of this. Who it was Sargent Pepper's. I cover band -- government yet that's. They had I didn't know but this guy Christopher cross. You know did saloon and with the wind and you know I could there was another follow the that we knew the municipal we didn't know the old timers sort -- Rejuvenated but that's like. You know biggest common room here and fox -- pretty pretty special and then. You know with -- Mass. General -- women having there. Location here in W those and skipped checks but Alou is -- problems and we beat bill handed to us. Friend here your partner would like a Victoria's Secret -- you."

[17:12]" You never know you know he's got some needs in. That. Hollister and rebook all the regular mr. Kraft. As -- out of -- the relentless and you know I don't know if you've been in the gospel. -- he has he's I -- a lot of you know there have been there now Michael."

[17:35]" It's like gone in the Museum of Science is the most. Unbelievable I've never seen. For retool operation. Like that you're in the average male shopper spends five hours and there's just."

[17:49]" I've never done that off on that at all but the you know what people out -- on. The value of the clothing. His shoes. So it's pretty special. What's happened here and I know. W uses they were doing so well decide to open up for launch. And then go to the severe listening to at the sliders and Fries. I promise you we won't be disappointed."

[18:15]" I want to talk about some of your partners here your business partners here in particularly the television networks. It seems like the television entity that television arm of the NFL is so vast so huge you've got your own network now your your partners with your networks is are going so well. Is there another step that can be made have you have you maxed out what you can do with with your television partners."

[18:38]" Well I hope not and I hope -- you know going back to what we -- about how you do business you'd try to partner up with people. Where you can add value and give quality. And report we're getting pretty high rates the the different ways that people take in the information. And and and watch product is changing. And part of what we're trying to do with the NFL network and -- info dot com is to be prepared. For the -- activity in different ways that people. Want to watch games and it its interest thing the as the market becomes more fractional laws. What we have in the NFL as pretty special news thing. That from 1 o'clock on Sunday and tool. The ESP in game on Monday night. Tonight will be the Patriots against San Diego. Is roughly a 120 million people. The launch an NFL game either in person. Or on television. There's no other product. Generates a ton of mass audience. So if you want to get a message. In -- it's pretty unique and we don't think about think our thing about our game against the Jets last week. Was hired in in New York and the Marlins -- its highest rated game in September. In the history of televising football. The Cowboys. Eagles game on. So on Monday night a week ago gray came was the highest rated game. In cable we we broke -- record last year against Baltimore which. And they got a million more viewers so. People are still watching even as you -- always cable networks and -- sort of go back. To your question we have to continue to give good matchup -- good quality. Keep parity in the league support comes to the Patriots up at -- and and have these great matchups and and -- develop and expand on the relationship I think the new media it's it's so exciting. You know the -- terms I'm not sure it's sort of like. Forgive the analogy about the financial markets no one. Well we know in the new media it's going to get bigger and better and I hope to financial markets the same and I do actually feel it deep down. But there's a certain uncertainty -- the Nolan can chart out exactly how it's -- ago. But we know we have a product that's -- great -- we have to be respectful of whether it's pre season or regular season. And don't nice take advantage. Of people who were trying to buy things on the cheap."

[21:45]" I felt that that's that -- FIR and a deal on. On the -- live -- But no to that point your league has been very fortunate no work stoppages since 1987 to remember that. And it was a fifteen game season so wasn't that bad within two games to. Games we didn't have the real NFL players. We keep hearing about 2010. And how could be an uncapped season do you think you'll get to that point or do you believe. Since you guys have opted out of the CPA that you can come to an agreement before we get to the the scary thought of it and uncapped season in 2010."

[22:23]" Well it's my intend to try to do everything I can do to try to help. Commentary in the system and keep it going. It's it's -- not a war in Iraq and no no deal life is good. Is if if if one side is giving the hands you're a little bit at so today. By the way we're structured as a league to. To continue. Playing under the conditions were applying. Doesn't allow the entire league. To -- you lose to him and you know it's whether it's marriage business or anything else that both partners aren't going well. You're gonna have a problem and rather unless they get to a real disaster point to try to fix it before it gets there and I think that's where we are now -- labor. The point is that the under the basic system. The businesses grown we've had a great partnership. With the players union. I think. The passing them gene Upshaw. We will. Complicate things even more because will be a lot of different agendas of people. Jockeying for position and we. We will have to. Just stay on the sidelines and hope there's someone there who above Wallace respectful of the game and doing a partnership and I know ownership will be easier to try to cooperate when we can."

[23:57]" Final question from me do you feel a certain synergy with the owners of the other professional sports franchises. In this area in this --"

[24:04]" Yeah it's it's the who was think about what's going on the world of them think about what's going on. In the New England area with the franchises and it's it's great. You. I -- animal. So. Anniversary celebration party and only only showed up and actually was the night. Over the Celtics playoff games so. There is a great camaraderie and camaraderie in the stone we do enjoy. The success of one another I don't see it is. Taking away from anything if anything it's just an enhancement. It makes people feel good. It makes people want to bring him with -- each of us in different ways. And and can have a great sense of pride in the two and and region. And and I think so. We're very fortunate. To have this period and please got to continue."

[25:05]" He didn't yet we ask you this every year have to continue this tradition which would like to share with us bill politics contracts that. -- want you you. You. Consumers do after yesterday. And recommend. And I in order. I didn't listen to buy recommendation before my recommendation was that to not hire him. I felt -- for saying that I did hitless in the may. Well. I think -- You know we're lucky. One I consider. -- coach in the oh."

[25:48]" He should be here for quail. So five yourself."

[25:51]" What what what what was the phrase you said a few minutes ago god god willing felt like that again. Same sort of thing. Thank you very much for being with -- kicking off our owners series this week it's always fun to talk with you thankless always and thank you get -- both. Patriots owner Robert Kraft joining us here on Sports Radio WE yeah."