Pro, Hula bowls will join forces

Advertiser Staff

Hula Bowl Maui officials expressed optimism that moving their college all-star football game to the same weekend as the National Football League's Pro Bowl will attract more marquee players and increase fan interest.

"No question, (the move) expands our talent pool," said Leonard Klompus, chief executive officer of Hula Bowl Maui.

In recent years, the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl were played on the January weekend between the NFL's conference championship games and Super Bowl. During a news conference yesterday, it was confirmed the next Hula Bowl will be played on Feb. 2 at Maui's War Memorial Stadium, the day before the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

Jim Steeg, the NFL's vice president of special events, said college standouts now can play in both the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl. The Senior Bowl, played in Mobile, Ala., draws 600 pro scouts annually; the Hula Bowl drew about 60 in January.

The Hula Bowl "won't have direct competition from the other all-star games," Steeg said. "They're separated by three weeks. Somebody can play in the Senior Bowl and also play in this. If you have a bad Senior Bowl, you can come back here and try to make up for it."

Steeg said the Pro Bowl and Hula Bowl will cross-market each other through national television promotions and events leading to what their officials describe as "All-Star Weekend." Steeg said Pro Bowl players will participate in festivities on Maui, and Klompus said "all of the Hula Bowl players will attend the Pro Bowl."

Klompus said travel discounts will be available to allow fans to attend both games.