The National Football League (NFL) has announced plans to play the 2013 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, ending months of speculation about not only where the all-star game might take place but also if it would be played at all.
“The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii,” Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations, said in a May 30 statement.
Broadcast live on NBC, the 2013 Pro Bowl will take place Jan. 27 at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium, one week before the Super Bowl is held in New Orleans.
Following an at times lackadaisical performance by some NFL players at this year’s Pro Bowl, one that generated boos from many fans in attendance, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell threatened to cancel the game entirely in April before telling reporters at a press conference in May that both New Orleans and Honolulu were being considered to host the event.
“We have had many discussions with the players in recent years about the Pro Bowl, and they recognize that the quality of the game has not been up to NFL standards,” Anderson said in the NFL’s statement. “We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season’s game.”
Maintaining ongoing negotiations leading up to the May 30 announcement, Hawaii tourism officials are still hoping to land a long-term contract to host future Pro Bowls beginning in 2014.
According to an Hawaii Tourism Authority spokesperson, the state will pay the NFL $4 million to host the 2013 Pro Bowl, the same amount it paid in both 2011 and 2012.
Watched by 12.5 million viewers, the 2012 Pro Bowl drew more than 15,000 travelers to Oahu specifically for the game and generated $25.3 million in visitor spending.