[0:14] ..." join us on Thursday. We we didn't promote. The owner of the New England Patriots because that was still up in the air and I didn't want to put them in a position where you know they were. Locked in on a certain date or anything like that well we've locked in a day. Today like -- a few minutes within minutes. So we will talk with Robert Kraft the owner of the New England Patriots -- a few minutes as we have our -- series as we've done in the past and I think it gives. Fans"...

[11:57] ..." we you you have a unique relationship with some of your players Richard Seymour set match here. And talk to us. About he and his wife travelling to Israel with you and and being baptized. You're you're 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."...

[13:11] ..." it and it hurts you know. Think -- Difficult it is shadow Rodney Harrison and action listen to them want to you're one of the programs here I don't know which one. You know he was"...

[0:00]" We're very happy to it to begin our owners series this week and and we promoted that Jeremy Jacobs will join us on tomorrow's program. Will be at Fenway Park on Wednesday and visit with -- John Henry what -- back the owner of the Celtics will join us on Thursday. We we didn't promote. The owner of the New England Patriots because that was still up in the air and I didn't want to put them in a position where you know they were. Locked in on a certain date or anything like that well we've locked in a day. Today like -- a few minutes within minutes. So we will talk with Robert Kraft the owner of the New England Patriots -- a few minutes as we have our -- series as we've done in the past and I think it gives. Fans out there and opportunity -- here from my the owner of the of the franchise. And even as we speak as we speak. 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."

[1:04]" No his I don't think it's headphones -- on just what goes on. Flick that switch on the side. -- a -- Maybe -- volumes. He's got -- life now now. Now I can hear all the little Lewis who has an -- all the wonderful things avoid that if you are doing great Oreo good thank -- 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 applaud."

[1:37]" Only feel bad 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 Peterson's we've put 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 have to -- what happened. -- coach. Norman was more. Torn up for an upset with what happened and I was like can assure you that carried through. Last night than this morning. Let us know or bonuses to name. I think the -- future's so. You. That's yesterday's news and like this you -- the newspapers with the good position let's throw that one ON. Forget about it."

[2:48]" Newspaper writers left here that can talk I rapidly as -- the fridge and in line the birdcage and talk and stuff. -- give your grandkids that -- and I remember when Patriots were. Playing at Fenway Park it. Not there yet but not not yet but it."

[3:05]" Think about it they've been. -- over the -- was Super Bowls than. The oldest -- Super Bowls in. I don't know twelve years."

[3:21]" think some teams on some purple. Home so it creates an expectation but it's a nice one you know we've we've been able. Hopefully impact the culture here analyst. Fourteen seasons this is the beginning of our fifteenth season. We had an unbelievable weekend here. In the hall of famers come to an analyst. Really early special. You think you know. Some of them would go -- on the -- who was. Remember playing in the sixties he's he's in the Patriots Hall of Fame the Dolphins hope -- him. In the camp now. He came back here. He's done is red jacket with great pride is both he and his wife. Were so could be Q for the week and and saw the special camaraderie that's been created here. You know such an afternoon when Lee. Have discipline in the plaza for a few thousand. And -- opposed Maria. Sitting. Something you know meticulously we have seen them steers and from and you know like community camp tonight having just the privilege. Andre Tippett gave me. During the speech and directing him -- my -- we've sort of try to create here and -- them. A wonderful wonderful week and coaches it was a real -- there. Yes the edges -- well all of us. I think what happens this week. Friday night in matters shall. And each of the players. Told stories and you know those of us remember Ben Coates who is this -- and we don't remember him as a man of many words. He was -- He he he's smart. And you know he's got countries so is -- Way above them worries from a small. To. He was really good and then. Course you Hannah is when he gets go."

[5:41]" We had him in here Friday and now when 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 against. -- 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."

[6:09]" 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 the ability of the best of your ability integrity in the product you give people will stay with you -- in the tough times and and in the end. The reward of winning. Is so much greater the psychic income from so much greater than. Making a few extra dollars. Uncle Sam has taken how awful and you know. We. We're and I don't mean to be cavalier. Because we also wanted to reproach -- we do stand -- so. And and that's very important to us the -- of the disappointments to do. You're in the business of professional sports the bottom line should be winning and if you win everything else will fall."

[7:20]" I do have a nit pick though haven't 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 -- what we could do. Is take increment Oman and spread over the first eight games it's it's coming out of the same place."

[8:01]" 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. Make the pre season is meaningful is is whether it should be 23. There's a certain amount revenue. That is necessary to come and you know we could. Billups create tickets and people would still. You know we're well over 50000. People on the waiting so. I'm sure they would take. There's just the way things have been."

[8:44]" Yeah -- it isn't the point is just we've seen it here and understand it from a coaching standpoint expressing game for the pre season game. You don't watch your top players in there. Because you want to go around for the regular season so there are times when coach Phillips -- well. Say okay you're not going to see this starting -- see that start but since you're not seeing -- A real football game you're seeing a watered down product I think it's unfair to pay. Big time money for practice games."

[9:14]" Well for those of us or were of I actually enjoy those skins because I enjoy singing. Players. Don't attitudes Cecilia and development so but. If you're you're a season ticket Kohler your partner and 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 lose again so would that make you feel you're a season ticket I'm not a season ticket office so you're just being a member of the medial and meant."

[9:51]" Well and I don't know wouldn't say a member of the media. I look at it this way. And I love footballers matches as that you guys -- football. But. There's a big difference between pre season game number two and game number five game number six in the regular season. I haven't -- hundred complained about the prices of the regular season tickets because. -- you you get what you pay for the product is -- good I'd just like it's a practice game. Is 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."

[10:27]" Well and I am conscious Oakland pitchers so it's a I do. I understand what you're saying and it's legitimate point and I'm on. -- Yes and one in the this is and it is -- the so dollars. So and so would you feel. If those prices -- And then another animal house of games."

[10:56]" I would feel better if he didn't. If you took a certain percentage out. He just -- 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 writer I -- distributing the money."

[11:12]" So then you're going to come with a million come in the locker room. And I'm gonna say that the honorable Bill Hall who would like you players take because they did 60% of the gross. -- likely to take a little bit less. So that we can reduce our processes and produces."

[11:30]" I would make the same case to the players. On behalf of of fans. Who are who who have to pay the weight you have to. Who have become -- put them I would that the players sore. It if you contingents. Are now if you notice now okay now we're I don't know how it got that that's a different argument -- remember the -- on the sideline. And I think. Yeah."

[11:57]" Yeah we you you have a unique relationship with some of your players Richard Seymour set match here. And talk to us. About he and his wife travelling to Israel with you and and being baptized. You're you're 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."

[12:30]" Any player. That that happens to do. You know you see on that worked in the offseason. Workouts in the pre season. And in excuse me and -- assist there it's. You know it's warily. So out -- game it's one of the verbal was while no one can never predict. Exactly what's going to. You know you say TO -- treatment room grace. You know. War. You know always want to let them matter. And it and it hurts you know. Think -- Difficult it is shadow Rodney Harrison and action listen to them want to you're one of the programs here I don't know which one. You know he was saying you know the whole heart was when he was sitting idly. And and you know. Like Thomas who has supported him extreme him. And dealing with just. Being alone being in private -- you know of the game and the boredom and and negativity that comes with just sitting idle. And are you have to be mentally strong and 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."

[14:05]" What 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."

[14:25]" Well you must remember we come here every day."

[14:30]" We have. You know I just actually. That kind of -- sports and and DirecTV down here two gentlemen and we're talking about how this used to be. Actor. Bottles and racetrack and stables and and betrayal park. And oh. Overrule us few years we've been able. 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 we paid for everything in the state did bonds but we're repaying them. There is no one public dollars a year or no beer sales. And I'm pretty proud of that and unlike any other city. In America but we've had to make a huge investment. In these 22000. Park inspires us. And for us to be able compete competitively. On the road we -- find other ways that we could do things and developed things. Millwood will allow us to generate the cash flow to support this investment privately. And anything we do -- our businesses we like it to be unique and distinctive. And so we came up. Truck with a regional estimation playing them myself in general from the has been real strong and portions. In terms of bringing in unique to -- different situations and I just taught took the fox. Gentlemen around and they couldn't believe our our hall of -- 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 for our players were there with there was some. Significant others -- always to me and it's an amazing and you know and then the deluxe theaters with a -- I don't know if you -- to think of boys to men."

[16:48]" Actually I remembered some of the songs. So really it was good -- The Brothers really love that they were there Bill Clinton and I knew I knew some of the music."

[17:03]" And -- stated we stay the whole time so those are good aren't good. And we actually saw another one when we're this. Who it was Sargent Pepper's. I cover -- that -- yet that's. They had I didn't know but this guy Christopher cross Lou. -- did Salem. With the wind and you know I could there was another follow that we knew the municipal -- no old timers toward us. Rejuvenated but that's like. You know please come and Rome here in a close pretty pretty special and then. You know it was Mass. General Brigham and -- having there. Location here and you know since subjects. Who is less -- moments and we beat bill -- to to us. Friend here your partner would like -- Victoria's Secret."

[18:02]" You never know you know he's got some reason. Hollister and rebook all the regular mr. -- As. -- out of -- the relentless and I don't know if you've been in the gospel. You know he has he -- and they're a lot -- you know there have been there. Marco."

[18:25]" 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."

[18:39]" I've never done that off on -- don't let -- you know what people out dish out on. You clothing. Shoes. So it's pretty special. What's happened here and I know. Doses were doing so well decide to open up for launch. Then -- go to this is obvious that the sliders and -- I promise you we won't -- this."

[19:06]" I want to talk about some of your partners here your business partners here and 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 -- 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."

[19:28]" Well I hope not -- ho park 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 now 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. We're the interactivity in different ways that people. Will want to watch games. It -- its interest during the as the market becomes more fractional laws. What we have in the NFL as pretty special when you think. From 1 o'clock on Sunday -- The yes PM game on Monday night ultimately. The Patriots against San Diego. Is roughly -- 120 million people. Little -- an NFL game either in person. Or on television. There's no other product. Generate such kind of mass audience. So if you want to get a message. -- 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 in the Middle -- as the 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. And cable we we broke -- that last year against Baltimore which. And they got a million more viewers so. People are still watching even as you -- always cable networks and -- in sort of go back. To your question we have to continue to give good matchups -- good quality. Keep parity in the league support comes to the Patriots up at a and and have these great matchups and and extra 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 today Nolan. 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 via the -- can chart out exactly how it's -- ago. But we know we have a product that's -- great demand -- 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 --"

[22:35]" I felt that that's the F I FIR and a deal on. On the line live ahead and got a 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 I think 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."

[23:13]" Well it's my intend to try to do everything I can do to try to help. -- in the system and keep it going. It's it's -- not a -- back and no no deal life is good. Is -- if if one side is giving the edge 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 too well and and you know it's whether it's marriage business or anything else that both partners aren't going well. You're going to have a problem and rather let it get to a real disaster point to try to fix it before it gets there and I think that's where we are now with a 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. Of passing them gene Upshaw. Will. Complicate things even more because will be a lot of different agendas of people. Jockeying for position and we."

[24:31]" We will have to. Just stay on the sidelines and hopefully someone there who above Wallace respectful of the game and doing a partnership and I know ownership will be easier to try to cooperate -- we can."

[24:47]" Final question from me do you feel a certain synergy with the owners of the other professional sports franchises. In this area in this --"

[24:54]" Yeah it's it's -- who was think about what's going on the world and then think about what's going on. In the New England area with the franchise some -- it's very. I -- cool. 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 and and region. And and I think so. We're very fortunate. To have this period and please got to continue."

[25:55]" He didn't yet we ask you this every year have to continue that tradition which would like to share with us bill politics contract. It. And so. After yesterday -- You have -- recommend. And I in -- and -- didn't listen to buy recommendation before my recommendation was that -- not -- room. -- felt -- for saying that I did hitless in the may. Well. And coach."

[26:38]" He should be here. So five yourself what."

[26:42]" What what was the phrase you said a few minutes ago god god willing felt like that yeah 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 us both. Patriots owner Robert Kraft joining us here on Sports Radio WE yeah."