The Hawaii Tourism Authority expects to hear soon — perhaps within a week — if the Pro Bowl's 30-year stay in Honolulu will be extended through 2010 and 2011, officials said yesterday.

The 2009 all-star event, which will be the 30th anniversary of the game's arrival in Hawai'i, is scheduled for Feb. 8 at Aloha Stadium, but the current contract gives the NFL the option of moving the game to another site for 2010 and beyond.

An NFL spokesman said yesterday that "no decision has been made" on a proposal to continue the relationship that began in 1980.

Lloyd Unebasami, interim president and chief executive officer of the HTA, said the parties "are in negotiation" and he hopes to hear shortly whether the NFL will agree to a two-year extension that is on the table. "We've been working on this since the beginning of the year," Unebasami said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly shown interest in moving the Pro Bowl to the site of the Super Bowl, with the annual game played in the week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. In addition, from time to time, other cities such as Orlando, Fla. and foreign destinations have shown interest in hosting the game.

An NFL spokesman did not say what other sites were being considered or when a decision would be made.

The game has been a popular event for fans, who have sold out every game, the NFL claims, and for the players who find it a popular perk. Prior to the game's relocating to Honolulu player interest had fallen sharply and the game was rotated among several league cities.

The NFL receives a $4.5 million annual subsidy from the HTA.

According to the HTA, the 2007 Pro Bowl attracted 20,608 visitors to Hawai'i who spent $28.03 million.

The 2009 game will be telecast by NBC.