[ PRO BOWL ]
Pro Bowl to stay
in Hawaii at least
until 2009NFL owners OK deal to keep
NFL All-Star game in Hawaii
Owners of the 32 NFL teams unanimously approved a deal Wednesday to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii through the 2009 game.
"This is a significant step," said Larry Johnson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which negotiated the new contract. "The next step is just getting it all documented. An announcement of a finalized agreement should come by the end of June."
Jim Steeg, NFL vice president in charge of special events, is at the owners' meetings in Amelia Island, Fla. He said the final step is for the contract to be approved in "written terms."
The Pro Bowl has been played in Hawaii the past 25 years. The current contract was to expire after the 2005 game. Negotiators came to an agreement in principle for a new contract after this year's game in February. The state paid the NFL more than $5 million in hosting rights, but negotiators said that amount will be lower in the new contract.
Meanwhile, the University of Hawaii athletic department continues negotiations with the NFL to assist with putting on the Pro Bowl, with the goals of cutting the NFL's expenses while making money for UH. The athletic department's main involvement would likely involve local sponsorship.
"We're having very constructive conversations (with the NFL) sharing information. And we're formulating a business plan," UH associate athletic director John McNamara said. "Financially, we're a piece of the pie, and we want it to be beneficial for both parties."
Steeg said UH's involvement is separate from the main contract with the HTA.
"They can help us in at least two areas," Steeg said. "There's the local sponsorship aspect and combined buying power."