Patriots Become 1st NFL Franchise to Buy a Team Plane

[Doomsday101]

The New England Patriots have set many aerial milestones with Tom Brady running their passing game. They earned another by becoming the first NFL team to purchase their own airplane for team travel.

They only figuratively own the New York Jets, but the defending champions now own two wide-body jets. According to ESPN.com's Darren Rovell, the Patriots bought a pair of 767 Boeing aircrafts.

Rovell estimated a cost of around $10 million for both planes. Charter costs, meanwhile, are expected to balloon to approximately $4 million for the 10 round trips—including preseason games—required per season. That doesn't account for any playoff or Super Bowl traveling.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...om&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

 

[Doomsday101]

Look out, once Jerry sees this he will be putting in his order for a Boeing 777. lol

 

[Trouty]

Pretty ******* bad arse.

Let's see what Jerry does.

 

[chicago JK]

What's the true advantage of having your own plane? I guess marketing when you throw the Cowboy logo all over the plane?

I was fortunate 10-15 years ago to ride on a team plane with the Falcons to New Orleans because my company was a large sponsor with the NFL. The plane we flew was only the players, coaches and people connected with the team. No family. The plane was huge so the players had the rows to themselves. If I remember correctly, the food was pretty good as well and much better than standard airplane food. I also believe there was an open bar on the way home but maybe I am not remembering correctly.

When you are only flying to 8 games a year, I am not sure I see the true value. Although I guess if it was Jerry's plane it would certainly catch eyeballs when you saw the Cowboy plane at the airport.

 

[Trouty]

What's the true advantage of having your own plane? I guess marketing when you throw the Cowboy logo all over the plane?

I was fortunate 10-15 years ago to ride on a team plane with the Falcons to New Orleans because my company was a large sponsor with the NFL. The plane we flew was only the players, coaches and people connected with the team. No family. The plane was huge so the players had the rows to themselves. If I remember correctly, the food was pretty good as well and much better than standard airplane food. I also believe there was an open bar on the way home but maybe I am not remembering correctly.

When you are only flying to 8 games a year, I am not sure I see the true value. Although I guess if it was Jerry's plane it would certainly catch eyeballs when you saw the Cowboy plane at the airport.

Because Kraft is a baller

 

[viman96]

I like Jerry's setup

 

[viman96]

What's the true advantage of having your own plane?

Primarily convenience. They can control the schedule and how and when the plane is used.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

Primarily convenience. They can control the schedule and how and when the plane is used.

I also recall hearing many of the major airlines discontinued their charter arrangements with several NFL teams. Why, I'm not sure and if the Patriots were one of the teams but this could possibly be a contributing factor in them acquiring their own plane. I'm pretty sure the charter deal between AA and the Cowboys is still intact though

 

[viman96]

I also recall hearing many of the major airlines discontinued their charter arrangements with several NFL teams. Why, I'm not sure and if the Patriots were one of the teams so this could possibly be a contributing factor in them acquiring their own plane. I'm pretty sure the charter deal between AA and the Cowboys is still intact though

IIRC many of the planes had to be upgraded or replaced to meet FAA requirements and the airlines did not want to spend the money

 

[Nightman]

I wonder if Dean Blandino was given a ride?

 

[casmith07]

Pretty ******* bad arse.

Let's see what Jerry does.

Jerry's a smarter businessman. Partnership with American Airlines -- advertising revenue, etc. and no overhead (pilot salaries, crew, maintenance, fuel, permits and licensing, etc.)

 

[HeavyBarrel]

What's the true advantage of having your own plane? I guess marketing when you throw the Cowboy logo all over the plane?

I was fortunate 10-15 years ago to ride on a team plane with the Falcons to New Orleans because my company was a large sponsor with the NFL. The plane we flew was only the players, coaches and people connected with the team. No family. The plane was huge so the players had the rows to themselves. If I remember correctly, the food was pretty good as well and much better than standard airplane food. I also believe there was an open bar on the way home but maybe I am not remembering correctly.

When you are only flying to 8 games a year, I am not sure I see the true value. Although I guess if it was Jerry's plane it would certainly catch eyeballs when you saw the Cowboy plane at the airport.

Yep, I've flown to London on a Saints charter and we were fed every 3 hours and the food was good...Flew back from London with all players, staff, coaches and family and same thing, we ate about every 3 hours and got full course meals, players in the back of the plane were playing cards and there was 1000's of dollars on the table lol

 

[jrumann59]

Jerry's will be getting their own Sovereign Class Starship you can see a model of it at the Star Trek Convention in Vegas. He is getting it repainted and renamed, he is not big fan of the name USS Enterprise being the flagship for his team... Garrett to Enterprise 53 to beam up.

 

[perrykemp]

Rovell estimated a cost of around $10 million for both planes.

The $10M total for two planes doesn't make sense to me. New 767s are $180 million+. Either the author just got the data wrong OR maybe they are used planes which would make more sense.

 

[Tabascocat]

I am surprised it took this long for a team to get their own plane

 

[jrumann59]

The $10M total for two planes doesn't make sense to me. New 767s are $180 million+. Either the author just got the data wrong OR maybe they are used planes which would make more sense.

Maybe that is the lease payment.

 

[Ranched]

I think bleacher report better do more research. Jerrah had one way back. After all, he picked T.O up in Philly, remember? Oh wait, "team plane" yup, he got one of dem too. Oh, and a Fighter Stealth.

 

[Longboysfan]

Why not - This gives the A380-800's cabin 550 square metres (5,920 sq ft) of usable floor space, 40% more than the next largest airliner, the Boeing 747-8, and provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in an all-economy class configuration.