NFL Rumors: Idea to Move Pro Bowl Out of Hawaii Robs Aura of Special Game

The NFL doesn’t know what to do with their annual Pro Bowl event, but there is one thing that has to happen: keep it in Hawaii.

The Associated Press is reporting that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is interested in altering the way the current Pro Bowl is set up, possibly drastically. From the sounds of his comments, there is a strong chance they do something soon:

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We are going to either have to improve the quality of what we are doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes, or even consider eliminating the game if that is the kind of quality of game we are going to provide. 

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One of the most rewarding things for a player after a grueling six months of running, pushing, tackling and getting yelled out is not only being rewarded for your efforts by being selected as one of the best at your position, but it’s a chance to spend a week at one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The Pacific Business News is reporting that while the contract between the NFL and the state-funded Hawaii Tourism Authority is up, they are preliminary negotiations. This is in stark contrast to a Profootballtalk post essentially suggesting that if there was even going to be a game next year, it would be played in the site of the Super Bowl (New Orleans), not in Hawaii.

That’s not what the players want. The report went on to talk about how unhappy the players were privately regarding not only the location of the game, but all of the accommodations that come with it.

This is a reward for the players and they deserve to get what they want. This is their game.

Don’t forget about Hawaii’s angle as well. They don’t have a single professional team on their islands, and this is the only chance in the entire year they can see professional athletes up close. The fans show up for this game and it routinely brings the city of Honolulu somewhere in the neighborhood of $28M for the economy, according to the Business News. It’s a special event that brings out the fans; I’m not so sure the Super Bowl host site would be as lucky.

The Pro Bowl in Hawaii is a tradition. Moving it away will take some of the luster out of it. There won’t be any players wearing Hawaiian leis while trying to stay cool on the sideline as the rest of America wishes the weather was like that.

As long as the Pro Bowl exists, it deserves to be in Hawaii.