Pro Bowl back to Hawaii, still before Super Bowl

[Dpantherman]

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2010 3:52 PM ET

The NFL has declared the experiment of playing the Pro Bowl a week before the Super Bowl a success, announcing today that in 2011, the Pro Bowl will be played one week before the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. As previously announced, the Pro Bowl is moving back to Hawaii in 2011.

"Playing the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl generated more excitement and interest in the event and also kicked off Super Bowl week in an innovative new way," NFL Senior VP of Events Frank Supovitz said in a statement. "We are pleased to return to the State of Hawaii, which has embraced the Pro Bowl for 30 years."

The 2010 Pro Bowl on ESPN was watched by an average of 12.3 million viewers, the most for a Pro Bowl since 2000 and a 40 percent increase from 2009.

Next year's Pro Bowl will be shown live on Fox at 7 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, January 30, 2011. Super Bowl XLV will be a week later on Sunday, February 6, at Cowboys Stadium, also televised by Fox.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/02/2011-pro-bowl-will-be-played-week-before-super-bowl/

[Hawk]

like that it is going back to Hawaii....dislike that it is the week before super bowl still

[CosmoGirl]

Logistically, that's crazy! That will suck for the SB teams' Pro Bowl players. That's a long flight and the NFL requires the SB players to attend.

And have they considered that part of the success was because the Pro Bowl was in the same city as the SB so it made a week-long party. But I disagree with moving the Pro Bowl to the SB host city.

[The Saltman]

all about the numbers. Sold Out with high ratings..winner in the nfl's eyes!

[Brooklyn Bully]

all about the numbers. Sold Out with high ratings..winner in the nfl's eyes!

This. I also bet they excuse the Super Bowl team's players this go around. It was pathetic in Hawaii after the SB. 1/3 full stadium, during the scorching afternoon, to dismal ratings.

[necroplasm]

So lame.

[Davidson Deac II]

This. I also bet they excuse the Super Bowl team's players this go around. It was pathetic in Hawaii after the SB. 1/3 full stadium, during the scorching afternoon, to dismal ratings.

Scorching afternoon in Hawaii? I lived there for several years, and it never once got to scorching. At worst, it was moderately humid.

I went to the probowl once while I was there. Fun time, but it was really hard to take the game seriously. There was some good eye candy around though.