October 6, 2016
Dear Mr. Modell,
Sir, we know that you have since passed, but we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your contributions to the New England Patriots as they embark on a game against the expansion franchise that replaced your own in Cleveland.
Your announcement on November 6th, 1995 in which you told the country of your decision to move your football team, the Cleveland Browns, to Baltimore is one of the unsung days in Patriots history. The fact that it was made the day before the city of Cleveland voted to capitulate to your revenue funding only furthers Patriots fans’ appreciation. This decision gave the six states that comprise New England, arguably, the greatest historical run in modern sports.
We want to thank you for your “business savvy” when you refused to share the revenue generated by suites at Cleveland Municipal Stadium with the Cleveland Indians, despite the Indians generating a majority of the income. That decision prompted the Indians to find public funding for their own stadium, which saw your company’s steep decline in revenue. Your business decision to not divvy up the shared revenue with your local baseball team, without which, the people of New England would never have been able to bear witness to four Lombardi trophies.
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