2010 Pro Bowl goes State Side
Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii has seen its fair share of NFL Pro Bowl games. For thirty consecutive seasons, 1980-2009, it has been home to the famous all-star game. The continental United States has something more than just the New Year to celebrate this early January however, as the 2010 Pro Bowl is set to take place at Miami’s Land Shark Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. This will be the second Pro Bowl for Miami, as the city hosted the 1975 game at Orange Bowl Stadium.
In addition to the venue change, the 2010 Pro Bowl will be the first in NFL history to be played before the Super Bowl, also to be held at Land Shark Stadium. When probed for a reason to hold the Pro Bowl first, a potentially dangerous game for any Super Bowl hopeful player, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained to the Associated Press that he was hoping to avoid a “somewhat anticlimactic” ending to the 2009-10 season. When this plan originated, it was intended that any players on championship squads, both AFC and NFC, would not be asked to participate in the Pro Bowl. This notion, as has become obvious with the official 2010 Pro Bowl roster release, did not come to fruition.
26 of the NFL’s 32 teams will be represented at the upcoming game, to be played January 10, 2010. In a surprise turn-out, the Bengals have no representation in this years game, prompting Chad Ochocinco to return the snub by saying, “The Pro Bowl, it’s like being married for 30 years…you get tired of it.” This year, those representing the NFC will be 8 Minnesota Vikings (the most players from a single team for this year’s Pro Bowl, including a whopping 5 starters), 6 Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, 5 New Orleans Saints, and 4 Arizona Cardinals to name the teams with the most players in. The AFC’s heavy guns this year include 6 Indianapolis Colts, 5 players from the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers respectively, and 4 Houston Texans. Peyton Manning, of the Colts, will be starting Quarterback for the AFC, as Drew Brees, of the Saints, will stand in the same position for the NFC.
As the city of Miami sets itself up to host the two biggest NFL games of the year one week apart from each other, we highlight some positives for the league’s monumental moves. For one, Land Shark Stadium has a seating capacity of 72,000, trumping Aloha Stadium by 22,000 seats. For another, by most fans’ standards, Miami is a whole lot more accessible than Honolulu. “The Pro Bowl is really meant to be open to everyone, and the whole idea was to bring more fans to the Pro Bowl and more fans to the stadium than we ever have before… Now we’ve got an opportunity for (fans) them to come to the stadium and really enjoy something world class that was previously 6,000 miles away.” explains Frank Suporitz, NFL Senior Vice President of Events. In keeping with this spirit, there will be a free practice on January 30th open for attendance.
Miami will be abuzz with football frenzy for a solid week straight, giving no break to the avid fans. The upside? No one has the time to lose interest, especially with the Pro Bowl taking place before the Super Bowl. Those of us not fortunate enough to make it to the sunshine state will be glued to the TV for both games, something the NFL is banking on to boost Pro Bowl ratings. If you have managed to finagle your way into tickets, you’re about to experience a game you’ll remember forever in a town with no shortage of entertainment in its own right. Hotels, dining, and nightlife are in abundance as is the warm weather and sandy beaches. Miami bars tend to stay open late for games as well as post game celebratory jubilee.
Thus the stage is set for what is sure to be an epic game in a stunning yet accessible location. Hawaii will host next season’s game again, so this is shaping up to be a rare opportunity sporting event, at least until the NFL makes an actual determination for a rotating annual Pro Bowl schedule. In short, if you have tickets for the 2010 Pro Bowl game at Land Shark Stadium in Miami, feel free to rub it in to all your friends.
