The city of Houston "has submitted a bid to host" the '17 Pro Bowl in advance of holding Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium," according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner "envisions Houston hosting the Pro Bowl the way the city of Phoenix did" prior to Super Bowl XLIX in '15 and Miami prior to Super Bowl XLIV in '10. Turner: "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." Wilson notes the site for next year's Pro Bowl "hasn't been determined yet and would likely be voted on during the spring." Several cities, including Honolulu, and international venues like Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro "are under consideration." Houston Super Bowl Host Committee Chair Ric Campo said that it is an "ongoing process to try to land the Pro Bowl, but a formal bid has been submitted." He said, "The NFL has to decide they want to come here" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/12).
