Fate Of Future Hawaii-Based Pro Bowl's In Limbo
NFL Players Want Pro Bowl To Remain In Hawaii
POSTED: 10:11 pm HST February 3, 2009
UPDATED: 5:39 am HST February 4, 2009
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HONOLULU -- The NFL and Hawaii Tourism Authority are extremely interested in getting the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii, but as Sunday's big game approaches, no one knows if it'll be the last Pro Bowl ever in the islands.
Video: Watch The StoryBoth sides said they are working hard to strike a deal that would mean the return of the Pro Bowl in 2011.However, the state wants assurances Hawaii will be the site of the two Pro Bowls that follow next year's event in Miami.The NFL wants fewer restrictions and has proposed two of the next four games be played in the islands."We need some amount of flexibility in our scheduling and they need some amount of certainty. And we're trying to find ways of coming up with a position that everyone can live with," said Frank Supovitz, with the NFL.The NFL's senior vice president of events admitted that the league is apprehensive about a long-term commitment to Hawaii. One reason remains the state of Aloha Stadium.The NFL said the stadium requires both remedial and aesthetic work."For that reason, we can't enter into a long-term agreement to be at Aloha Stadium because we want to continue to monitor how the stadium is being maintained before we make any commitments that would go for a large number of multiple years," Supovitz said.In these economic times, there is also concern about the stadium's capacity: 50,000 seats at Aloha Stadium, 72,000 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami for next year's game."It's turning out difficult even to sell 50,000 tickets to the Pro Bowl this year," Supovitz said.The Pro Bowl raked in $28 million for Hawaii's tourism industry last year. It also meant invaluable national exposure during the Super Bowl with ads promoting the all-star game and the state would like to see the tradition continue.Aloha Stadium has undergone some repairs and is scheduled for a $185 million upgrade.Supovitz said a new agreement will come down to current economic conditions and the state of the NFL.Many of the NFL players assembled in Honolulu want the Pro Bowl to remain in Hawaii.One is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. On Sunday, he'll make his 10th bowl appearance at Aloha Stadium.The Pro Bowl is bidding aloha to the islands after the game following a 30-year run.Next year's Pro Bowl will be played in Miami a week before the Super Bowl.Lewis played college football at the University of Miami. He said if selected for next year's Pro Bowl, he would "probably not" play.Lewis said many players live in or visit Florida often, so playing there wouldn't necessarily be a reward.
Video: Watch The StoryBoth sides said they are working hard to strike a deal that would mean the return of the Pro Bowl in 2011.However, the state wants assurances Hawaii will be the site of the two Pro Bowls that follow next year's event in Miami.The NFL wants fewer restrictions and has proposed two of the next four games be played in the islands."We need some amount of flexibility in our scheduling and they need some amount of certainty. And we're trying to find ways of coming up with a position that everyone can live with," said Frank Supovitz, with the NFL.The NFL's senior vice president of events admitted that the league is apprehensive about a long-term commitment to Hawaii. One reason remains the state of Aloha Stadium.The NFL said the stadium requires both remedial and aesthetic work."For that reason, we can't enter into a long-term agreement to be at Aloha Stadium because we want to continue to monitor how the stadium is being maintained before we make any commitments that would go for a large number of multiple years," Supovitz said.In these economic times, there is also concern about the stadium's capacity: 50,000 seats at Aloha Stadium, 72,000 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami for next year's game."It's turning out difficult even to sell 50,000 tickets to the Pro Bowl this year," Supovitz said.The Pro Bowl raked in $28 million for Hawaii's tourism industry last year. It also meant invaluable national exposure during the Super Bowl with ads promoting the all-star game and the state would like to see the tradition continue.Aloha Stadium has undergone some repairs and is scheduled for a $185 million upgrade.Supovitz said a new agreement will come down to current economic conditions and the state of the NFL.Many of the NFL players assembled in Honolulu want the Pro Bowl to remain in Hawaii.One is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. On Sunday, he'll make his 10th bowl appearance at Aloha Stadium.The Pro Bowl is bidding aloha to the islands after the game following a 30-year run.Next year's Pro Bowl will be played in Miami a week before the Super Bowl.Lewis played college football at the University of Miami. He said if selected for next year's Pro Bowl, he would "probably not" play.Lewis said many players live in or visit Florida often, so playing there wouldn't necessarily be a reward.Copyright 2009 by KITV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
