THE 1990s proved a decade of huge change for the New England Patriots, but it could have been so much more.
Six years after he bought their home, Foxboro Stadium for $22million, Robert Kraft took ownership of the Patriots in 1994 for a then record-breaking $172million.
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Now in control of the franchise and its home, Kraft had his fair share of work to do to turn around a team that had not enjoyed a winning season since 1988.
Another issue facing the team was the state of their stadium.
Foxboro was originally opened in 1971, it was well past its sell-by date and the Patriots were in need of a home befitting the new era of the NFL.
Deals were discussed, but not reached, with both South Boston and Rhode Island, according to Today In Connecticut History.
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But come 1998, it was a riverside plot in Hartford, Connecticut that almost came to fruition.
The city, and particularly Governor John Rowland, had been looking to rejuvenate the downtown area with a convention center, stores, and a hotel, according to Sports Illustrated.
With a budget of around $1billion to work with, the Patriots could have been the crowning jewel.
Using their burgeoning wallets to their advantage, their offer for Kraft was simple: Come to Connecticut, and we'll foot the bill for a $374million, 68,000-seat stadium.
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If that wasn't enough, the offer specified that any cash leftover from that stadium fund (if it were to come in under budget) would go to the Patriots.
What's more, unsold luxury suited would also be purchased by the state, which would also cover "whatever it lost on local sponsorship deals due to playing in a smaller market."
Caked in honey, this deal was too sweet to turn down, especially considering that a prior deal to remain in Massachusetts had fallen through thanks to opposition from the House.
''Massachusetts has had over 35 years to try to solve this problem and has been unable to do it,'' Kraft reportedly said, according to The New York Times.
''Some of you might be uncomfortable with this move,'' adding: ''We had no opportunity to solve our problem in the near term.
"If the city of Hartford and the people of this state had not gotten together and come up with this, our family would have to put this team up for sale.''
The matter of fact was simple, the Patriots needed a new home, and Connecticut was offering them the honey, the bees, and even cash for more honey.
In February 1999, Kraft signed on the dotted line.
The deal also would have proven beneficial for college football fans, as the University of Connecticut would have also called the new stadium, per the Connecticut Economic Digest.
But, as per SI, a steam plant remained firmly in the way of their preferred location.
As such, the race was on for the state to negotiate a deal with its owners to move out before they could find out when the land would be suitable to build upon after over three decades of pollution from the plant.
Meanwhile, negotiations resumed once more in the background over a potential new home in Massachusetts.
Eventually, just two days before the opt-out deadline, Kraft announced they were to remain in New England, having come to an agreement on a new stadium next door to their original home.
The prospect of moving the steam plant and the issues that had arisen surrounding this were "largely to blame," according to SI.
In a letter, via Patriots.com, Kraft told Governor Rowlett: "We know that you and your staff have worked tirelessly to put this deal together, but clearly, the scope of this project was a mountainous undertaking and much more complex than anyone anticipated when our discussions originally began.
"We know that you have exhausted every effort to meet the deadlines that have been within your control, but it has become clear to us that the goal of playing in a new stadium in Hartford by the year 2002 has a significant degree of uncertainty.
"When we originally announced our intentions to play in Hartford, we discussed a 2001 kickoff, but as I write this letter, the most probable kickoff in Hartford is now 2003, five seasons from now."
As for Governor Rowlett and the state of Connecticut, they were left with eggs on their faces.
As consumer advocate Ralph Nader told The New York Times following the announcement in 1999: "A government needs to know what they're doing and who they're dealing with, and Connecticut showed it did not know either one.
"Bob Kraft was using Connecticut against Massachusetts and then when Massachusetts came around, he threw the deal into the river.''
Reflecting on the decision, Kraft reportedly said, according to ESPN: "People don't understand. I walked away from what would be $1.2billion present value.
"There was no risk for me. No debt. I would have been much wealthier with no financial risk if I had done it.
"It wouldn't have been like the Boston Braves moving to Milwaukee.
"Our stadium would have been a 1-hour and 15-minute drive from here.
"Most of the people who come and tailgate drive that far anyhow. But, it didn't feel right, so we didn't do it."
Gillette Stadium was ultimately constructed at a cost of $325million, and opened in 2002.
Twenty years later, the Kraft family announced they were investing another $225million into major renovations to the stadium ahead of the 2023 NFL season.
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As for Hartford, the downtown developments were carried out, with the exception of the stadium.
In its place remains the steam plant.
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