Pro Bowl Success

Long and Behold... the Pro Bowl was a success. Following a week of bashing, and complaining from many, the All-Star football contest not only was shown at night during prime-time, but it also generated the highest viewer ratings for a Pro Bowl since 2000. It was a steep increase from last years Pro Bowl. Around 8 million viewers tunned in to last years Pro Bowl following a Steelers Super Bowl victory. This past Sunday 12.3 million viewers tunned in. The outcome was obviously successful.

Many fans, experts, and even players bickered about this years Pro Bowl contest. First it was in Miami instead of Hawaii. This turned out to be a great move by the NFL in my opinion. The location allowed for 7:30 pm start eastern time which automatically makes the game more marketable for its viewers. The location of the Pro Bowl is also strategically the location for the Super Bowl. This allowed the Super Bowl environment to continue its buzz, which many also feared would be lost. Usually during the week before the Super Bowl there is no football played. The primary objective for this is to rest both competing teams while also stirring up momentum for the contest. The Pro Bowl certainly created buzz and it should be noted that fans did not have to wait a dreaded two weeks for football, they got to see a low-contact version of football with the leagues best players. At the same time now the Super Bowl has its buzz by becoming the final game of the year.

Recently players for both championship teams headed to the Super Bowl expressed frustration for not being able to land in Miami (Super Bowl Location) at the same time as their Pro Bowl teammates. Acknowledging those players who are in the Super Bowl for their Pro Bowl selections is imperative for the fans who voted those players in, and thus it is important that those players arrive in Miami earlier to be present at the game. The argument of separating teammates can create some emotional and chemistry issues if your team captain is not their to land with you as you enter the Super Bowl stadium. However lets be serious, a one day difference in arrival should not be taken so seriously. And besides that, the NFL will cater to where the money comes from and that is the fans. Players still have a week to build up whatever may have been lost in being unable to arrive with their Pro-Bowl teammates. As of now, expect this to become a pattern. Ratings talk. If there is any success in perhaps the least competitive all-star game of all sports, the NFL will make sure to juice it out.