Posted at 11:15 a.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2001

NFL rethinks Pro Bowl seating

By Bart Asato
Advertiser Staff Writer

The National Football League announced today it will introduce premium seating, and cut ticket prices for other seats, in next year's Pro Bowl.

The game, to be played Feb. 3, 2002, at Aloha Stadium, features all-star teams from the American and National football conferences.

The premium seats, which the NFL calls "club" seating, will be sold for $200 each. The NFL will block off about 2,500 of them in the stadium's loge level. The price of more than 21,000 other seats will be reduced.

The new club seating will require adjustments by those who previously had tickets in the loge area, and who will be given priority to purchase club seats.

Information on the new ticket policy will be sent to longtime Pro Bowl ticket holders this week.

According to the NFL, the club seats will offer fans special parking and gate entrances, concession service at their seats, $25 in concession credit, and gifts such as a bobble-head doll and collectible football card.

It also will include discounts to the NFL Pro Bowl tailgate party and free tickets to the NFL Experience in Waikiki.

Other seats would run from $20 to $75.

For this year's Pro Bowl, end zone tickets cost $30 to $35. Those tickets will cost $20 in 2002.

The NFL will handle ticket distribution this year instead of Aloha Stadium.

Last week the NFL announced plans for a marketing campaign to spark interest in the game.

Although the Pro Bowl has sold out 21 of the 22 years it has been in Hawai'i, television ratings have been declining.

Also, the NFL draws about one tenth of the number of fan votes as Major League Baseball's All-Star game.

The NFL drew 880,000 fan votes, compared with 10.5 million for Major League Baseball.

The NFL said it would expand voting for the Pro Bowl through Blockbuster Video stores, increase advertising and work with Hawai'i tourism officials to sell discount travel packages.

"We hope to provide improved access to tickets for citizens of Hawai'i, as well as the many fans visiting from the Mainland," said Jim Steeg, NFL senior vice president of special events, in a news release.

This year, 50,113 Pro Bowl tickets were distributed. The AFC defeated the NFC 38-17.

Bart Asato can be reached at 525-7454 or e-mail at bartasato@honoluluadvertiser.com