ESPN’s PTI is reporting, incorrectly attributing a Star-Bulletin story to the ‘Tiser, that the NFL will use the option to play the Pro Bowl at a different location once during the term of the current contract that runs through 2009.
Of course, this is a negotiation play for a bigger piece of the contact pie. It’s all about money, because the game itself is meaningless tripe. You’ll see more competitive football during your kid’s pee-wee league scrimmage.
Figures quoted in the Bulletin story point toward $30 million in visitor spending (and $3 mil in tax revenue) against the $4 million the state pays the NFL for hosting rights. It’s a net loss for state coffers, but a bonanza for local businesses and make politicians who keep it around look good. The counterfeit apparel dealers don’t mind either.
Frank Supovitz, NFL senior vice president of events, blows a lot of smoke up local fans asses at the end of the piece when he discusses talks about having the Super Bowl in Hawaii. It’s only further evidence for the buttering up of Hawaii and a fatter hosting rights fee.
Star-Bulletin: Pro Bowl may skip ‘08 here
