With the conference playoffs in the books, only the Super Bowl is left before the 2022-2023 NFL season ends. But in the meantime, where is the 2023 Pro Bowl located, and when does it begin? Before we find out who hoists the Lombardi trophy, the brand-new Pro Bowl Games are set to kick off this week. Here’s all the information you need to know to watch the NFL’s player showcase.
Where Is the Pro Bowl Located in 2023?
The NFL gave the Pro Bowl a revamp this offseason. While challenges to showcase players’ talents were introduced a few years ago, the actual game played by the league’s best will be a flag football game this year. So where is the Pro Bowl located?
The NFL returns to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, for its second consecutive year of Pro Bowl action.
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The NFL will also continue to hold its Pro Bowl Skills Competition. Familiar events like Precision Passing presented by EA Sports Madden NFL 23 Mobile, Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball, and the Best Catch presented by Uber Eats all return this year.
The league has also added new events like Kick Tac Toe, Gridiron Gauntlet, and Lightning Round. With new wrinkles and efforts to improve the appeal of the NFL Pro Bowl, be on the lookout for things you’ve never seen before.
Why Did the NFL Move Away From Hawaii?
While Las Vegas has hosted the Pro Bowl for the last two seasons, the Pro Bowl was always known for another destination: Aloha Stadium in Halawa, HI. Hawaii was the site for 34 Pro Bowl games before the NFL officially moved away from the islands in 2017, but was there any particular reason?
As mentioned earlier, among the all-star games in professional sports, the NFL Pro Bowl lacks the viewership and hype compared to the NBA, NHL, and MLB. The final three years in Hawaii saw an attempt to shake things up with two captains drafting teams from the nominated player pool, eliminating the conference clash. After little to no change, the league opted to bring back the original AFC vs. NFC format.
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Along with these changes came a move to Orlando in 2017. ESPN owns the rights to the NFL Pro Bowl, and with Disney owning the sports company, the hope was bringing the game closer to Disney World would increase the appeal.
One of the major draws to playing in Hawaii was the vacation destination for players, their families, and the fans. Disney can have a similar effect, but not nearly the same for everyone. With Las Vegas being another new Pro Bowl location over the past two seasons, the NFL is still searching for answers to make the all-star game more appealing.