HONOLULU -- Pro Bowl or no Pro Bowl, the stadium needs a major influx of cash.

"We are going to refurbish the stadium regardless but we would like to have the NFL back," said state comptroller Russ Saito.

For the past three decades Hawaii has played host to the Pro-Bowl and for the first time, the game heads to Florida next year.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is after a contract that commits to the next two games played in Honolulu after 2010 and is currently mulling over a counter offer. Among other things, the NFL wants stadium improvements.

The Lingle administration has released $40 millions for health and safety on the rusting steel structure. That work will start next week.

"The roof is the most urgent and we work on the stands from there,"

And there's also the issue of the bridges. The stadium has a total of eight bridges. They'll all have to be reinforced since they shake.

There is a lot of surface rust and improvements that need to make general maintenance easier.

Saito said this session lawmakers are being asked for another $70 million for phase two.

"If we get that entire amount we would get to replace the east stands the Mauka stands of the stadium and subsequent years we would do east stands next and north and south stands," Saito said.

Stadium officials say among the plans are also reworking the press box and adding more luxury seating in the areas that now are open spaces.

So will that sweeten the pot for a Pro Bowl Hana Hou in 2011 and 2012.

"That's up to the NFL all we can do is try and make the stadium as attractive we can make it," Saito said.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority expects to vote on the Pro Bowl offer later February.