The NFL yesterday officially announced Orlando's Camping World Stadium as host of the Pro Bowl in '17 and '18, and the city could be getting "more bonus football this year in August and possibly September," according to a front-page piece by George Diaz of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The NFL yesterday also announced that the Dolphins "will move" the team's Aug. 25 preseason game against the Falcons to Camping World Stadium. Additionally, sources said that if the renovation of the Dolphins' stadium "isn't ready by Sept. 3," the Univ. of Miami football team "would move" its season opener against Florida A&M to Camping World Stadium. UM AD Blake James said, "Orlando is a spot we're evaluating." Diaz notes the Falcons-Dolphins game "will mark the first time" since '97 that the NFL "has played a preseason game in Orlando." Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said, "We always said if you invest in the stadium we can compete." Diaz notes the deal "will lock the Pro Bowl" in Orlando for two years, with the NFL and Florida Citrus Sports "both having an option clause on the third year" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/2). In Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Perkins cites sources as saying that the preseason game "wasn’t moved because of the ongoing renovations to the stadium in Miami Gardens, rather the NFL asked the Dolphins to move the game to help market" the Pro Bowl. The Dolphins "have repeatedly said construction on the stadium is on schedule" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/2). In Miami, Adam Beasley notes the NFL is "marketing the game as a celebration of Play Football Month." But "perhaps the real motivation: the game gives league officials the chance to observe Camping World Stadium’s gameday experience and stadium operations ahead of the Pro Bowl" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/2).
THE BREAK UP: In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis writes under the header, "Hawaii Shouldn't Try To 'Re-Imagine' Pro Bowl Returning To The Isles." The move to Orlando "isn't a dalliance" as in '10, when the game was played in South Florida, or '15 when it "was played in Glendale, Ariz., each time returning to Aloha Stadium." This is "divide-up-the-dishes and blankets and move on time" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 6/2).
UP TO OLD TRICKS: In N.Y., Ari Gilberg notes the NFL "considered a wide range of options in trying to make the Pro Bowl appealing again -- including even moving the game to Australia." Instead, the league "elected to revert back to its old ways." For the fans who "still care to watch, the Pro Bowl will return to its traditional NFC vs. AFC game format" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/2).
