The suit, filed in 1st Circuit Court in Honolulu, alleges breach of contract and that Sanchez owes the NFL $457,604 for Pro Bowl tickets sold by his former company, Ticket Plus, as well as a $100,000 event sponsorship fee. The NFL also is seeking $464 for eight tickets to a San Francisco 49ers event purchased by Ticket Plus.

Sanchez, who sent the New York-based NFL a $100,000 payment in August, said he's trying to repay the NFL.

"We've never denied that we owe them the money," he said. "Any day now, we should have this matter cleared."

Sanchez said the problem stems from a "considerable" amount of money owed Ticket Plus by an unidentified third party. Ticket Plus was acquired by Los Angeles-based Ticketmaster in March; Ticketmaster, however, is not named as a defendant in the suit. Financial terms of the acquisition deal were not disclosed.

"We're owed a considerable amount from a third party. I can't tell you everything that there is" because of nondisclosure agreements, he said.

Sanchez said he's seeking a loan to pay the NFL the money owed. He said the NFL suit will make it more difficult to secure such a loan.

Officials for the NFL were unavailable for comment yesterday. However, Jim Steeg, NFL senior vice president for special events, has said that the situation involving Sanchez and Ticket Plus would have no effect on the league's Pro Bowl relationship with Hawai'i.

The Pro Bowl has been held at Aloha Stadium for the past 24 years. This year, the annual all-star event on Feb. 2 drew about 18,000 visitors to the state — 2,000 more than last year, according to results of the survey conducted by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. Hosting the Pro Bowl cost the state about $5 million.