The NFL is "seriously considering moving the Pro Bowl from Hawaii to the Super Bowl site in Arizona this season to improve the game’s revenue and profile," according to a source cited by Pete Dougherty of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. The source "didn’t know whether the controversial Arizona bill that would allow businesses, based on religious beliefs, to refuse service to gay customers will play a factor in the league’s decision." However, some business leaders in Arizona "are concerned that if the bill passes, the NFL might move the Super Bowl out of state, which presumably would preclude playing the Pro Bowl there as well." The NFL played the Pro Bowl in the Super Bowl city "once before, in 2010, when it was held in Miami." It has been back in Hawaii since, but the source said that the league "thinks the game’s competitiveness this past season and more thorough planning than in ’10 could make it worth playing in the Super Bowl city again." The source said, "They want to create an environment where they can bring more fans to it and get more of a revenue-generating experience for the NFL. Doing that in Hawaii, because of how far you have to get so much of your fan base, it’s tough. ... The feeling is as long as they can maintain the competitive nature of it, they can really turn it into a revenue generating experience" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 2/26).
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that while reports have put the salary cap as high as $132M for '14, it "will be higher." The source said the cap could be a "few million" higher than $132M. Florio noted it is unknown whether the increase in cap, which is "based on revenues but inevitably is negotiated by the NFL and the NFLPA, will result from efforts to borrow against future cap increases" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/25).
