Deal on Lost Gillette Stadium Revenue Could be Weeks Away

A deal between town and Gillette Stadium officials concerning revenue lost from the addition of the Optum Field Lounge could be weeks away.

Tuesday night, Town Manager Bill Keegan updated the selectmen on the issue, noting that progress is being made and the board could have a memorandum of understanding in front of them in the near future.

“Overall, I’m encouraged by the direction and hopefully I’ll have a document for you to sign in the next few weeks,” Keegan said.

With the addition of the field lounge, about 1,500-2,000 seats were removed from the stadium’s south end zone. Since the town collects a fee for each ticket sold for stadium events instead of property taxes, Foxborough lost an estimated $30,000 when the seats were taken out for the new lounge area.

Earlier this month, Selectmen Chairman Jim DeVellis said the stadium offered to meet the town halfway and pay $15,000 in lost revenue for the 2015 season.

A potential change to the stadium lease agreement was also discussed to address similar situations that may happen in the future, but any changes would have to be approved at town meeting.