Pro Bowl may be moved to Super Bowl cities

Pro Bowl News

NFL owners today discussed moving the Pro Bowl away from Hawaii in 2009 as well as in later years.

"What was discussed today (at NFL owners meetings in Philadelphia) was the concept of moving the Pro Bowl to the week of the Super Bowl and playing it prior to the Super Bowl as part of the build-up," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. "It was also discussed that the location would be on a rotating basis, perhaps around a Super Bowl location."

McCarthy said Hawaii could remain in such a rotation, even though a Super Bowl is not played here.

Every Pro Bowl since 1980 has been played at Aloha Stadium, and the NFL is under contract with the state of Hawaii through the 2009 season. In 2004 the parties agreed to a deal in which the state pays $4 million per year to host the game.

The Pro Bowl generates around $30 million in visitor spending and $3 million in state tax revenue, according to figures from the state. The NFL also donates money to Hawaii nonprofit organizations and is building a youth center in Leeward Oahu.

If the game matching the AFC and NFC all-stars were to be moved before the end of the contract, another year would be added to the end of the deal.

Lloyd Unebasami, chief administrative officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said his office is negotiating a possible contract extension with the NFL.

?We had not gotten word of anything at this time, so we have no comment other than we?re in negotiations,? said Unebasami, when asked if the HTA knew of a possible move.

Last December, the NFL?s executive in charge of the Pro Bowl, Frank Supovitz, said it was possible the game could be moved to another location, possible overseas, as early as 2008. The league later decided to hold this season?s Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

Gov. Linda Lingle and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann have both championed the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Hannemann, while working for the state in the 1990s, negotiated Pro Bowl contracts.

Lingle, Hannemann and NFL officials were not immediately available for comment today.