Posted on: Thursday, June 14, 2001

Hula, Pro bowls to be on same weekend

Advertiser Staff

In a news conference today, Pro Bowl and Hula Bowl Maui officials are expected to announce a partnership in which the National Football League and college football all-star games will be played on the same weekend in February.

The nationally televised Hula Bowl usually is played on the January weekend between the NFL conference championships and Super Bowl.

But according to people familiar with the situation, next year's final game of the college football season will be played on Feb. 2, the Saturday after Super Bowl XXXVI, at Maui's War Memorial Stadium.

The Pro Bowl, matching all-stars from the American Football Conference and National Football Conference, is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Aloha Stadium.

The partnership is expected to boost interest in the Hula Bowl and, with more NFL personnel in Hawai'i during that time, could attract more marquee college football seniors to Maui.

Hula Bowl Maui officials declined to comment yesterday. But Aloha Stadium officials confirmed that NFL and Hula Bowl officials will meet this morning to finalize details.

The American Football Coaches Association helps coordinate Hula Bowl Maui.