NFL Pro Bowl In Las Vegas To Have New Format Next Year
The National Football League is the biggest sports draw in America, but for whatever reason the Pro Bowl has been a non-event. Many of the top players refuse to play, the ratings are a fraction of a mid-season game, and the games are usually incredibly boring.
Well, the NFL took notice and are switching things up for this February.
They announced Monday that Pro Bowl you once knew is gone, being replaced by “The Pro Bowl Games”. Instead of a one-day “full contact” (but barely) affair, the “Games” will be a skills competition over several days, followed by a flag football game on February 5th at Allegiant Stadium here in Las Vegas.
Fear of injury that changed Pro Bowl forever
Back in 1999, there was a beach flag football event happening during the Pro Bowl weekend. Patriots running back Robert Edwards was playing in the game, and the promising rookie suffered a brutal injury. He sliced an artery in his leg and sustained an injury that made him miss the following two seasons.
Since then, it has seemed like playing in the Pro Bowl has become less appealing to players. Many of the league’s elite would play “gently” or not play altogether. The result was a very boring and uncompetitive game that wasn’t worth tuning into.
Low ratings doomed the event
In February, the Pro Bowl moved to Las Vegas. But the glitz and glamor of “Sin City” couldn’t save the event, garnering around 6.7 million viewers. That would but it behind some of the lowest rated regular season games. The viewership was the lowest in 16 years and a steep slide from only a few years prior. The league was reportedly weighing dropping the event altogether.
The new plan to make the Pro Bowl great again
Announced Monday, the NFL plans on turning the entire format on its head. “The Pro Bowl Games” keeps the AFC vs NFC rivalry going, without the snoozefest of a game. Players will be challenged on their football, and non-football, skills over several days.
Skills competitions that preceded the Pro Bowl before will return with a twist. Everything from passing and catch competitions, to even dodgeball. Events that garner huge social interaction and meme-able moments. The “barely a” tackle football game will become a flag football matchup.
Peyton Manning (who, love him or hate him as a player, is outstanding) and his production company “Omaha Productions” are said to be putting together the programming for the event. The goal is to make the event watchable, make the players want to play without as much fear of suffering an injury for what is an exhibition event.
We are here for it! Something had to happen, and what better place to reinvent yourself than Las Vegas.
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