probowl moved

[the home team]

NFL moves Pro Bowl to Saturday
All-star game will be Feb. 10 at Aloha Stadium
Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com



The NFL will hold the 2007 Pro Bowl on a Saturday — not Sunday, as usual.
“Yes it’s true,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Star-Bulletin today. “The city and state are aware of the change to Saturday for next year’s game.”

The league, which has played its all-star game in Hawaii since 1980, requested to hold it Feb. 10.

The move to six days after Super Bowl XLI in South Florida instead of the usual seven days is linked to the wishes of CBS, sources said.

CBS will broadcast both games. ESPNcompleted its Pro Bowl contract with last month’s game.

“While ABC and ESPN both did an excellent job covering and broadcasting the Pro Bowl over the years, we’re looking forward to working with CBS which also will broadcast Super Bowl XLI the week earlier,”McCarthy said.

“CBS as the broadcast partner for this Super Bowl has the option for the Pro Bowl and has taken it.”

A call to CBS sports programming in New York was not returned this morning.

The league has requested a 1 p.m. kickoff (Hawaii time) at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii has hosted the Pro Bowl to sellout crowds at Aloha Stadium the past 27 years.

It was not immediately clear how a Pro Bowl week compressed by one day might affect various events held throughout the state involving the NFL players who come for the game and other activities.

The game’s TV ratings have dropped in recent years. This year’s Pro Bowl got a 3.7 rating (4.14 million households).

The NFL is under contract with the state of Hawaii through the 2009 Pro Bowl. In 2004 the parties agreed to a new deal in which the state pays $4 million per year to host the game.

The Pro Bowl generates around $30 million in visitor spending and $3 million in state tax revenue, according to figures released by the state. The NFL also donates money to Hawaii nonprofit organizations and is building a youth center in Leeward Oahu.

The NFC beat the AFC 23-17 in last month’s game, with Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks winning player of the game honors.