HONOLULU—The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, and the National Football League (NFL) have announced that the next Pro Bowl is confirmed for January 30, 2011, the Sunday prior to Super Bowl XLV. The game will be televised live on FOX with kickoff at 2 p.m. HST at Aloha Stadium.
“The Pro Bowl has been a part of our community for more than 30 years and we look forward to welcoming the game back to Hawai‘i in 2011,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. “We know how much the Pro Bowl means to our residents, the players and to the thousands of fans from the mainland who enjoy visiting our state for the game. The Pro Bowl is a great investment for our state with both economic and community benefits.”
HTA will invest $4 million per game for 2011 and 2012. In 2009, the Pro Bowl accounted for $28.6 million in visitor spending, generated $2.9 million in state taxes and attracted 18,000 visitors to Hawai‘i for the game.
“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,” said Frank Supovitz, the NFL’s senior vice president of events. “We are pleased to return to the State of Hawai‘i, which has embraced the Pro Bowl for 30 years.”
In 2009, HTA’s sports marketing program accounted for approximately 73,500 visitors, $106 million in visitor spending, and $11.3 million in state taxes.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority was created in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai‘i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with our economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs. For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org.
