No Pro Bowl in Hawaii this Weekend

The 2010 Pro Bowl is being held in Miami this weekend after being hosted at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii for over 30 years. The Pro Bowl hasn't been played on the mainland since the 1979 game in Los Angeles, where Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Ahmad Rashad was the game's MVP. With the exception of the Pro Bowl there are no NFL games played in Hawaii, so for fans in the Islands this is a real blow.


There is one group of people unhappy about the move to Miami: the players. Rumor has it that players are disappointed that they won’t get the chance to visit Hawaii and take their well-deserved vacation. Many players take their friends and family to the Islands to relax, see the sights and enjoy the aloha spirit. In Miami, the atmosphere is very different, with many players concerned about the behavior of fans not only during but after the game. In a article on NFL.com, Roger Goodell mentioned that he was trying to raise the profile of the Pro Bowl, calling it, “a somewhat anticlimactic ending to the football season”. Isn’t the Pro Bowl about the players? At least it used to be – maybe now its all about the money.

In 2012, the Superbowl and possibly the Pro Bowl will be played in Indianapolis. I’m thinking that players who are selected for job well done in the 2011 season won’t think of the Pro Bowl as a treat when they have to trek to the mid-west in the middle of winter!

With the latest news that Brett Farve is not playing at the Pro Bowl this weekend, will you tune in and watch? Do you think moving the Pro Bowl to the mainland is a mistake?

Welcome to the Wyland Waikiki

I had trouble deciding on where to start when writing a recap of our vacation. I wanted to start at the flight to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines but I think I will save that for the end. When we arrived in Waikiki on February 6, we were so excited to get to the hotel, check in, and head to the Barefoot Bar. However, when we arrived at the Wyland Waikiki Hotel we were very surprised to see that there was a huge party about to start at the hotel pool. As it turns out, Thomas Jones from the New York Jets was staying at our hotel, along with his massive entourage, and he was hosting a Pro-Bowl party! John was beside himself, all star-struck! I didn't know who was who, so I just sat by and watched the football players arrive - I only recognize them if they have their jersey on with the number on it!

Here's some pics from the party:

Once we were able to check in at 3pm, we were pleasantly surprised with the room; it was cosy but tasteful, and we had a balcony which got lots of sun in the afternoon. The bathroom was so small that only one person could literally fit in there at any one time, but it was fine! I thought I would have trouble living in such a tight space with John for the whole time given that we have such a large house in Seattle; but actually, it was fine and it made me realize how much space we really need to survive - not much at all.

The hotel facilities were excellent; they had two pools and a hot tub, a cafe and business center in the lobby, massage chairs and x-box consoles for game junkies, great concierge services and free internet in each hotel room. We also got a copy of the Honolulu Advertiser delivered to our room each morning, which was a blast from the past - we used to get the paper delivered when we lived in our apartment and that was how we kept up with the news, not the internet! Unfortunately we did experience one problem, being noisy guests in the room next to us - we had to call security twice but they did handle the situation for us so kudos to the security staff for responding so promptly (at 2am).

We really enjoyed staying at the Wyland Waikiki and would definitely recommend to others. You can book via the Outrigger website or directly at the Wyland Waikiki website if you are planning a trip. Also, thanks to Stacy Manzo, Director of Sales and Marketing at the hotel for taking care of our internet queries and for her Island recommendations, particularly the 'Monkey Lunch' at Turtle Bay!

Room Photos:

2009 Pro Bowl Activities

Only one week until the 2009 Pro Bowl! Given that this is the last year that the Pro Bowl may be held in Hawaii, it’s time to soak it up and enjoy the planned activities. All the activities below are free, except for the Pro Bowl itself. Please note these activities are subject to change. Apart from the Pro Bowl, my choice of activities is the NFL Pro Bowl All-Star Block Party Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue, being held on Saturday February 7 from 7-10pm. I think I will start at Duke’s Waikiki and go from there! Yay, can’t wait! For those who have not purchased tickets, you better get to it, as it looks like there may be a potential blackout to Hawaii viewers as there are still over 5,000 tickets left for sale.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
12 – 6 PM: NFL Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapiolani Park

Presented by The Paradise Yellow Pages and The City and County of Honolulu. Military Appreciation Day: Football fun for the entire family—free autographs, interactive games, non-stop entertainment, official souvenirs and fan contests. Special military entertainment and demonstrations.

3 – 6 PM: Military Challenge at Kapiolani Park

A traditional competition featuring teams from each branch of the military testing their football skills. Come cheer on your favorite team.

4:30 – 9 PM: Sunset on the Beach at Queen’s Beach (Between the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium)

Relax on the beach and enjoy a popular movie along with a special guest appearance by the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders. Produced by the Waikiki Improvement Association and the City and County of Honolulu.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
9 AM – 12 PM: NFL Pro Bowl ‘Ohana Day Celebration at Aloha Stadium
Presented by The Paradise Yellow Pages and Peterson Sign Company. Here’s your chance to see both the AFC and NFC teams in action, enjoy fan contests, and a preview of the Pro Bowl game entertainment!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
10 AM – 6 PM: NFL Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapiolani Park

Presented by The Paradise Yellow Pages and The City and County of Honolulu. NFL Fan Appreciation and Play 60 Day: Football fun for the entire family—free autographs, interactive games, non- stop entertainment, official souvenirs and fan contests. Join the NFL’s drive to promote youth fitness and healthy lifestyles with fun games, contests, educational information and free youth football and cheerleading clinics.

10 AM - 4 PM: NFL Pro Bowl Youth Football and Cheerleading Clinics at Kapiolani Park

Advanced registration required. Contact the Honolulu Boys and Girls Club or the Honolulu YMCA for registration information.

7 – 10 PM: NFL Pro Bowl All-Star Block Party Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue

Presented by Hawaiian Airlines, Donruss Trading Cards and The City and County of Honolulu. The ultimate post-season NFL celebration with multiple entertainment stages, NFL players, cheerleaders, great food, and special surprises. Attended by 50,000 local and mainland fans last year.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

8:30 – 11 AM: Official NFL Pro Bowl Tailgate Party at Richardson Field (across from Aloha Stadium and next to the Arizona Memorial, just off Kamehameha Hwy)

This is the place to be before the game. This year’s party will feature great entertainment and delectable food. The tailgate party is held at Richardson Field, overlooking Pearl Harbor and within walking distance of Aloha Stadium. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.

11 AM: NFL Pro Bowl Pregame Ceremonies at Aloha Stadium

Get into the stadium early to experience the spectacular pageantry of the NFL All-Star Game.

11:30 AM: 2009 NFL Pro Bowl presented by State Farm Insurance at Aloha Stadium

See the NFL All-Stars in action—it’s a full day of football fun, spectacular plays, and NFL pageantry.

Pro Bowl Leaving Hawaii After 2009

I had written a post not so long ago about the 2009 Pro Bowl, and had mentioned that it was undecided where the 2010 Pro Bowl would be held. Well, it's now confirmed that Hawaii will no longer be the host; in fact in 2010 the Pro Bowl game will be played the week before the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. This is a big disappointment to those who attend the Pro Bowl in Hawaii every year, not to mention the players who get to take a break in the Islands. Another cause for concern is the local economy; In 2007 the Pro Bowl attracted 25,000 visitors, who spent approximately $28 million during their stay, according to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority. In an unstable economy that's a lot of money to be sent somewhere else. However, the move to Miami for the Pro Bowl is not permanent, and let's hope that it makes its way back to Hawaii for 2011.

If you are heading to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl this February but still haven't purchased your tickets, click here.

Pro Bowl 2009 - We Have Our Tickets

John was able to get tickets for the 2009 Pro Bowl this week. He is taking his good friend Jimmy to the game instead of having a bachelor party before the wedding. I was just reading in the news today that Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Brett Favre will be there, among others. Although the game will be much more laid back than the regular season, it should be great for celebrity spotting! The sad news is that Tony Romo won't be going, but 5 Cowboys will be in attendance.I am thinking that I will be sure to see a few of these guys walking the streets in Waikiki - time for a photo and autograph!