New England Patriot’s owner, Bob Kraft, has had more than his share of success in business. To most New England football fans and even football fans nationwide that occasionally see a Patriot’s game, Kraft appears to be a likable, well spoken, family oriented professional . And he is. But Bob Kraft is much more. He has worked hard to become the head of his own private little empire. Massachusetts residents get a tiny peak at his holdings every time they take a turn along Route 1, in Foxboro, MA . While some shake their heads at the amassing of such fortune others are more than willing to tip their hats to the business genius who has been so instrumental in bringing winning football to New England.
Bob Kraft, a man with a Dream. Bob Kraft is happy to tell anyone who will listen, where he is from. With a big smile he will gladly share that he was born in Brookline, MA a suburb not far out of the city and only about a half hour drive to Gillette Stadium home of the New England Patriots. . He went to local schools in Brookline and then received an academic scholarship to attend Columbia University . When it was time for graduate school , Kraft returned to Massachusetts and attended Harvard Business School where he received an MBA and apparently lots of business savvy.
As a young man Bob Kraft was a Patriots’ fan and wasn’t too proud to follow the team during the 1960’s when it often alternated playing sites traveling from B. U. Field, to Fenway Park, to B. C. Alumni Stadium to Harvard Stadium. In 1971 when the Patriots took up residence in Foxboro, Kraft became a season ticket holder and apparently was hooked on this local football venture. When Kraft tells this story to fans he never leaves out the part about how he was a loyal fan and the kind of fan that wanted the best for the team and its followers. Even in those early days Kraft was thinking about a better, more elaborate home field for the local good guys .
Minding his own business. Kraft was very adept at putting his book learning to work for him. In 1972 at just 31 years of age he founded International Forest Products a trader of paper commodities that has grown and expanded until today it does business in 80 countries around the globe. The Kraft business acumen served him in good stead. His success in business became nearly legendary in Massachusetts and beyond. Kraft now heads up Kraft Group, a holding company that includes some 30 corporations. Along the way he put together enough of a personal fortune to allow him the luxury of a little empire building
While enjoying his business success, Kraft could never quite shake his early dreams of a better facility for a potentially better Patriots franchise. Like all good business men. Kraft had a plan and he proceeded gradually to unveil it in front of supportive Patriots’ fans. Kraft revealed his business judgment with regard to the Patriots when he outmaneuvered other interested parties and came away in 1988 having purchased the Patriots Foxboro stadium. Just six years later Kraft was on the move again this time marshaling his finances and ending up as the proud owner of his very own private, personal football franchise, the New England Patriots.
The midas touch of businessman Kraft continued. Owning stadium property and a franchise was great but Kraft fully recognized the need to invest in the very best of coaches to bring his dream and the dream of New England football fans to life. Despite the raised eyebrows of many pigskin experts, Kraft made the business move of his professional life and coolly traded the Patriots first round draft choice in 2000 for the services of coach Bill Belichek. Kraft’s confidence in the new coach was soon rewarded. Belichek would be the first coach in NFL history to ever win 3 super bowls in a four year span .
Under owner Bob Kraft and coach Bill Belichek the New England Patriots have become the class organization of professional football. The Patriots set the bar of excellence very high for football and for professional sports across the board . They almost routinely appear in post season play, win division championships, conference titles and of course the coveted super bow.. with style and grace. And no one, on any team is ever ready to count the Patriots, Bil Belichek or Bob Kraft, out. Kraft is as well known and well loved as any team owner in professional sports.
Another Opening, Another Show. During the summer of 2007 work on another Kraft project is well under way, the building of Patriot Place an extension of Patriots’ owner Bob Kraft’s private little empire. There on Route 1 just south of Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots, the Kraft empire is stepping beyond sports and moving into the world of shopping and entertainment centers.
Looking forward to a fall opening, Patriot Place will eventually offer restaurants, theaters, a small Patriots museum, Patriots team store, an exciting array of stores ranging from Victoria’s Secret to the Christmas Tree Shop with everything in between, and a modern hotel facility. All told Kraft will unload approximately $350 million to put this latest venture into full swing with opening scheduled to fit conveniently into both the football season and the holiday season.
Using land that is part of his Stadium property Robert Kraft ‘s private little empire has room to grown and plenty of place for parking. Patriot Place will fill land that has long languished for exactly this kind of development. Kraft himself has noted that this building is really his legacy. Its modern lines and upscale tone will certainly be attractive to those seeking a new trendy shopping stop or eatery.
When Kraft says its a legacy operation there is no doubt that he is thinking of his son Jonathan who has for a long time been a part of every major Robert Kraft venture. Together Father and Son will now share not just interest and ownership of a formidable football franchise, and not incidentally a National Soccer League entry in the “Revolution, but also an incredibly stylish shopping village.
Bob Kraft, a community kind of guy. For all his success and wealth Bob Kraft seems very much untouched by his own good fortune. He knows clearly how blessed he has been in his business ventures. Bob Kraft and his family have made it a point to share their good fortune with the less fortunate in the New England community. An active philanthropist, Kraft is a major donor to youth programs and cancer research. He sits on boards at B. C. and Harvard, He has received honorary degrees and perhaps more important the genuine affection of Patriots fans. Bob Kraft is not just your typical owner, he is an active and enthusiastic owner who enjoys every minute of every game.
And perhaps that’s the most enjoyable thing about Bob Kraft. His private little empire is not Kraft Group, the New England Revolution, The New England Patriots or even Patriot Place, its all of these things. Just drive down Route 1, in Foxboro, MA and you will quickly see the empire that Bob Kraft has created not just for himself but for all of New England to visit and enjoy. In the end Bob Kraft is a community kind of guy.
