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The NFL has decided to move the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl to Orlando and also return to a NFC versus AFC matchup format.
The game had been held in Honolulu for 30 years since 1980, before moving around to various other cities the last five years. The Pro Bowl will be played at the Citrus Bowl in 2017, which had a $200 million renovation two years ago.
One main factor for the reconsideration, is to increase the level of competition after last year’s game that was held in Glendale, Arizona. In the last three years, team captains have chosen their teams through a draft, but the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Events Peter O’Reilly says that traditional rivalry is what the NFL wants to get back to.
There will be many activities going on during Pro Bowl weekend at different venues around Orlando for families and fans to partake in. O’Reilly says that Orlando is a great place to hold the Pro Bowl because of the family atmosphere and the celebration of the all-stars.
Pro Bowl NFC vs AFC about time!!!#OldSchool
— Jerry Rice (@JerryRice) June 2, 2016
The Citrus Bowl is where the Gator football team played their 2016 bowl game against Michigan and is now where the NFL has decided to hold a Miami Dolphins’ preseason home game on August 25. This is the first time a preseason game has been in Orlando. It is expected that the city of Orlando will only continue to draw more large sporting events in the future. The Pro Bowl is set to be played on January 29, 2017.
