Allowing each team to deduct up to $5 million a year for five years for planning costs in connection with proposed new stadiums from their annual rent payments. The amendments do not provide the city with pre-audit authority over the level and nature of the spending, Thompson said. The city, he said, "is left with very little input in how and when these funds are expended."

Changing the Yankees' lease to let the team terminate their lease at Yankee Stadium with only 60 days notice after December 31, 2002. "The lease amendment now gives the Yankees the option of leaving New York City with 60 days notice any time over the next nine years if the Yankees reasonably determine that the City does not intend to proceed" with the new stadium, Thompson wrote. Previously, the team had to choose between leaving the stadium after next season or committing to play there for another five seasons.

Changing the Mets' lease to allow the team not to pay the city certain ad revenues and cable TV fees that they previously owed the city. "This decision is even more questionable given the serious condition of the city's finances and or need to enhance revenue streams," Thompson wrote.

Both leases were altered on December 28, 2001, the same day as plans for the new stadiums were unveiled at City Hall. Thompson called on Mayor Bloomberg to have the city enter into "stand-alone" agreements with the teams on the new stadiums "in order to more clearly set the agenda."