City attempts to land game to be Super Bowl prelude
NFL anticipates deciding on site in the spring
The city of Houston has submitted a bid to host the 2017 Pro Bowl in advance of holding Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner revealed the proposal to host the NFL’s annual all-star game after a Thursday news conference to unveil an official countdown clock to next year’s Super Bowl.
Turner envisions Houston hosting the Pro Bowl the way Phoenix did before the Super Bowl in 2015 and Miami in 2010.
“With the Final Four coming in the first week of April and the possibility of the Pro Bowl, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the Pro Bowl may come the week before the Super Bowl,” said Turner, who estimated 1.1 million visitors will be in town for the Super Bowl. “When Arizona had the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, their economic benefit was like $720 million. When New Orleans had the Super Bowl, their economic benefit was $480 million. And we’re anticipating an economic impact of more than $500 million. That’s a huge benefit.
“The Pro Bowl has historically been held in Hawaii, but I know the NFL is trying to consolidate their Super Bowl experience with the Pro Bowl. They’d like them to be held in the same city. It just makes it much easier for everybody who’s traveling who’s affiliated with the city and the Super Bowl. It’s a possibility. It would be ideal if it could happen.
“There are some conversations. We’re making a major push to bring all of the major events to the city of Houston, just like the Final Four.”
Non-U.S. locales in mix
The site for next year’s Pro Bowl hasn’t been determined and likely will be voted on during the spring. Several locations, including Hawaii and international venues such as Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are under consideration.
“No decisions have been made on the future of the Pro Bowl,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email. “We have received interest from cities in the U.S. and from around the world. We anticipate making a decision this spring.”
Houston Super Bowl host committee chairman Ric Campo said it’s an ongoing process to try to land the Pro Bowl, but a formal bid has been submitted.
“We’re working with the NFL, but they’re not in a position to make a decision at this point,” Campo said. “We’re still working on it. The NFL has to decide they want to come here. That’s ultimately it. The Pro Bowl is an interesting game. A lot of it is the players bring their f amilies and enjoy the benefits of the Pro Bowl. The player experience is key, and that’s why they’ve been in Hawaii for a long time.
“The challenges are just destination appeal for players. What we have to do is convince not only the NFL but the players and broader constituents that Houston is a great place to come live, play, work and vacation. It would just be a bookend for Houston.”
Help in tough times
Turner was upbeat about the economic prospects for Houston of the Super Bowl and potentially acquiring the Pro Bowl.
“This is one of those pivotal moments when oil and gas prices are very low and we’re going through layoffs in the oil and gas industry,” Turner said. “This is like a shot in the arm. Even when you’re going through these types of challenging times, we still need something to keep us uplifted.”