The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2023
Robert Kraft
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2023
- Embed from Getty Images
- Sport(s): Football & Soccer Owner
- Statistics: 6 Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI & LIII)
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Robert Kraft had long since wanted to own a professional sports team, and he had previously made bids to purchase the Boston Celtics and the Boston Red Sox, but he had bigger designs on the New England Patriots.
Kraft methodically worked his way in, first buying a ten-year on the Foxboro Raceway, adjacent to Foxboro Stadium where the Patriots were playing. It also prohibited Billy Sullivan, who owned the team, from holding events there, which reduced their revenue. Sullivan was losing money to other poor investments, and Kraft bought Foxboro Stadium, which, while outdated, still had the Patriots' contract. Kraft then tried to buy the team, but it was sold to Viktor Kiam.
Kiam wanted to move the team to Jacksonville, but Kraft would not let the team out of their lease. Like Sullivan, Kiam was facing financial trouble, and he sold the team to James Orthwein, but the same pattern occurred, as Orthwein could not get Kraft to release him out of the lease. A couple of years later, Kraft's Machiavellian plan came to fruition, and he bought the Patriots for $172 million.
Under Kraft, the Patriots had the stable ownership they ever had, and arguably it has become the most stable in the NFL. Kraft became one of the most beloved owners in football, and his team became the most successful team in the first 20 years in the 2000s. The Patriots went to nine Super Bowls, winning six of them. New England never had a 12-win season before Kraft, and they have done so 13 times since he bought the team.
As for Foxboro Stadium, Kraft was able to get a new stadium built, Gillette Stadium, worthy of the team that the Patriots became.
Kraft also founded the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer in 1996 and remains their owner today.
Still the Patriots owner, Kraft should be a future lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Boston sports owes a debt to the dedication of Robert Kraft.
We are proud to nominate Robert Kraft for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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