Kraft, Wynn suspend Foxborough casino proposal

Foxborough, Mass. (AP) - Plans to bring a $1 billion resort-style casino to the New England Patriots' hometown have been suspended, Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn and the team's owner announced Tuesday, a day after two opponents of the project were elected to the town board.

The announcement by The Kraft Group and Wynn Resorts came after Foxborough voters elected two selectmen who opposed opening negotiations with Wynn. He had planned to build the resort on land leased from Patriots owner Robert Kraft across from Gillette Stadium, the team's home field.

Under a state law that legalized casino gambling in Massachusetts, developers must first negotiate an agreement with the city or town in which they hope to build a casino.

"With Monday's election, we believe the citizens of Foxborough have spoken," The Kraft Group said in a statement. "As we originally committed, we have heard them and respect their collective voice."

A spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment on whether that means the proposal might come up again.

Stephanie Crimmins, who founded the group No Foxboro Casino in December, said members of the grassroots organization are "just absolutely thrilled" by the news.

"Yesterday's election was pretty telling and we were hopeful that this would happen, but none of us expected this to happen as quickly as it did," she said.