I am sure that all of the NFL fans out there are knowledgeable about the NFL moving Pro Bowl weekend to the week before the Super Bowl instead of after like they had always done before. It is easy to see why they decided to move the event since they want the Super Bowl to be the grand finale of the NFL season. I am sure that this and other scheduling conflicts (such as NBA Allstar Week which is the week after the Super Bowl) would of had a great deal to do with the scheduling of the event. Since the Pro Bowl is now before the Super Bowl this year no players from either team were allowed to participate in the event, due to potential injury and I am sure it was looked at as a distraction also. But what about the fans. The fans that generate millions of dollars to all aspects of the game such as tickets, merchandise, and ratings don't really have a say in this. When fans fly to Hawaii to watch the game or just tune into the local television station to watch the Pro Bowl they want to see the best players in the league, but they are not all there.
It is said (http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/03/02/pro-bowl-returns-to-hawaii-retains-controversy/) that Pro Bowl television ratings were up last year (the first year to play the game before the Super Bowl) 40% from 2009. This could also be a direct reflection of a declining economy since travel, tickets, lodging, parking, and beer can all add up to a large lump of money. "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," was Frank Supovitz, the league's senior VP of events statement on the subject. Of course this is his opinion which might distort the view of a general fan of the league. Holding the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl also fills a gap in the two weeks that are between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.
From what I have watched the Pro Bowl seems to be a laid back and fun atmosphere for the players to enjoy the game of football without the business aspect, and where else would be better for that feeling that Honolulu. But even with that kind of atmosphere there is still an abundant amount of business aspects to deal with. Ratings mean a lot to revenue for the NFL, and as sad as it is that is what this league has come to. An article at http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3798734 says that Hawaii's state government released $11 million for renovations to there stadium. This was in effort to get the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii since the revenues for that weekend sky rocket. In conclusion I am very disappointed that the Pro Bowl players are voted in by the fans, but since the NFL can make more money the Super Bowl contending Pro Bowl players will be replaced by players that did not make the cut by the fans.
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