Hawaii says no to NFL's proposal for state to host Pro Bowl in 2011, 2012
Associated Press
HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Tourism Authority board on Thursday rejected the NFL's second proposal to return the Pro Bowl to the islands in 2011 and 2012.
However, the 10-member board approved a motion to renegotiate with the NFL, if the league is willing.
The board voted 6-4 against the proposal. It cited several concerns, primarily the NFL's decision to move its annual all-star game to a week before the Super Bowl and whether the $4 million to host each game could be better used for other purposes.
"We are faced with different economic conditions than we were in the past and a dire need to bring as many (tourists) to this destination as we can from every potential market," board member Sharon Weiner told the panel. "This $4 million, I believe from a marketing perspective, could be better leveraged with other programs."
