Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Kraft Group and Boston Soccer 26 are working together to make sure that Foxborough gets the funding it needs for security for its seven World Cup games at Gillette Stadium, but a critical vote on an entertainment license hangs in the balance.
The town doesn’t want to be left on the hook for millions of dollars for security. The Select Board has withheld the World Cup’s entertainment license until it gets the $8 million it needs.
“I agree with the selectboard’s stance to withhold the license. Ultimately nobody really wants that, but we have to do what’s right for the town and I appreciate them standing up for us,” Foxborough resident Sophia said.
“I think that the board is doing a phenomenal job standing up for the town,” local business owner Jeff said.
The town of Foxborough has denied any progress has been made in recent negotiations in a statement published on Friday.
“This is a small town and there’s no way a town like this can assume that kind of cost for security,” another Foxborough resident said.
The World Cup matches remain less than 100 days away and the deadline for the entertainment license for a friendly match later this month between Brazil and France at the stadium is March 17.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.