{"id":4529,"date":"2026-07-08T08:33:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=4529"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:33:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:33:29","slug":"town-of-foxborough-fires-back-at-kraft-group-over-licensing-fees-lawsuit-asks-court-for-dismissal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=4529","title":{"rendered":"Town of Foxborough fires back at Kraft Group over licensing fees lawsuit, asks court for dismissal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With just one World Cup match remaining in New England, the town of Foxborough is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Kraft family company that owns Gillette Stadium, arguing that the company \u2014 not local taxpayers \u2014 is contractually obligated to pay the public safety costs associated with events at the venue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Cohasset\u2019s Ben Rice joins MLB\u2019s Home Run Derby field, seeking to be first Yankees winner since Aaron Judge<\/a><\/p>\n

Kraft Sports and Entertainment LLC and the New England Patriots sued the town in Norfolk Superior Court last month, accusing Foxborough officials of improperly using the stadium\u2019s annual entertainment license renewal to impose nearly $1 million in charges that are not authorized under state law.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kraft Group alleged the town unlawfully used its licensing authority to extract additional payments in exchange for renewing the license required to host sporting events and concerts at Gillette. They contend the conditions attached to the license exceed the town\u2019s legal authority and amount to an \u201cillegal tax.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

On Tuesday, Foxborough officials asked the court to dismiss the complaint. They accused Kraft Sports of demonstrating a \u201cstartling lack of candor\u201d by omitting what the town says are longstanding contractual obligations requiring it to reimburse Foxborough for public safety costs unique to events at Gillette. <\/span><\/p>\n

In a 61-page answer and counterclaim, the town argued Kraft Sports \u201cwillfully\u201d conflated state licensing law with its contractual obligations under the stadium lease and \u201cpurposely\u201d failed to disclose those obligations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the plaintiffs, a collection of multibillion-dollar corporations, would prefer to have Foxborough taxpayers bear these expenses, they are contractually bound to pay for the public safety services that are necessary to ensure safe and efficient events at their private venue,\u201d the town wrote in its filing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foxborough officials said Gillette Stadium relies heavily on the town\u2019s public safety departments to stage major events, noting its Police Department \u201ccoordinates a massive security effort\u201d involving \u201cdozens of Massachusetts communities\u201d to provide security.<\/span><\/p>\n

The town argued that if Kraft Sports were relieved of those contractual requirements, Foxborough would be unable to provide the necessary public safety services, and therefore could not issue the entertainment license.<\/span><\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Kraft Sports did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. <\/span><\/p>\n

The dispute stems from months of negotiations over Gillette\u2019s entertainment license. In March, Foxborough\u2019s Select Board members threatened to withhold the license needed to host the seven FIFA World Cup matches unless the Kraft Group paid $7.8 million up front to cover security costs. The board insisted that a small town should not be expected to foot the bill.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That dispute was resolved to Foxborough\u2019s liking after the Kraft Group pledged to underwrite the security costs.<\/i> Kraft Sports alleged Foxborough then used what should have been a routine renewal for an entertainment license in April for the World Cup \u201cas a pretext\u201d to charge them about $1 million in new administrative fees. Under state law, the complaint alleged, the town cannot charge more than $100 for an entertainment license. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kraft Sports and the Patriots already pay the town $8 million each year for other costs, the suit said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The complaint said the town claims the new annual charge is not a \u201cfee\u201d but instead is a \u201ccondition of\u201d the entertainment license for Gillette Stadium. Kraft asked the court to void the terms of the licensing renewal \u201cto the extent they constitute a promise or obligation to pay financial consideration to Foxborough\u201d in excess of the $100 renewal fee, except for \u201cservices rendered pursuant to freely negotiated contracts,\u201d the suit said.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the town asserted Tuesday that many of the claims were \u201cmisleading\u201d or \u201cpurposefully mischaracterized.\u201d Town officials argued municipalities have \u201cboth a statutory right to charge reasonable administrative fees to process an application and a right to impose conditions relating to reimbursement of costs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The town also denied Kraft\u2019s allegation that it had presented the company \u201cwith an invoice for $953,640\u201d as the suit alleged, saying it instead had issued its first invoice \u2014 a one-twelfth installment \u2014under the terms of the entertainment license.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, Foxborough requested the court to award the town \u201cits costs, fees, and expenses in the defense of this matter due to the frivolity of the complaint and the plaintiffs\u2019 lack of candor to this tribunal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe town remains committed to protecting both public safety and the interests of its residents while ensuring that events at Gillette Stadium can continue to be conducted safely and successfully,\u201d Foxborough officials said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The town also said it is committed to \u201censuring that the owners of Gillette Stadium adhere to their obligations to the town.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Ruben Vargas sends Switzerland into WC quarterfinals in shootout win over Colombia<\/a><\/p>\n

Material from a previous Globe story was used in this report. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kraft Group alleged the town unlawfully used its licensing authority to extract additional payments in exchange for renewing the license required to host major events at Gillette Stadium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nTown of Foxborough fires back at Kraft Group over licensing fees lawsuit, asks court for dismissal - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=4529\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Town of Foxborough fires back at Kraft Group over licensing fees lawsuit, asks court for dismissal - 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