Mickey and Minnie Mouse are ready to host the Pro Bowl again. Orlando will host the NFL’s version of its all-star game in 2020. It will be the fourth year in a row that Orlando has hosted the game.
This is usually where someone points out that the Pro Bowl isn’t even real football. Players constantly try and figure out a way to drop out of the exhibition game. Since the game moved from Honolulu to central Florida, it doesn’t have the same draw.
That is all mostly true. The only argument that works when discussing keeping the Pro Bowl is that people still watch the game and that’s the most important argument because it makes the league and its owners money. Ratings matter and the viewership for the game is still high compared to any other programming on at the same time. The Pro Bowl does better numbers than NBA and NHL games.
It’s also a nice reward for younger players or guys who had a great year and may never have a repeat performance of the past season. We still discuss Pro-Bowls when looking at a player’s resume when it comes to the Hall of Fame. The Pro Bowl does matter, even if the internet likes to crack jokes about the game when it’s being played.
It’s nice for Orlando as well. The city gets to do something it’s very good at which is hosting a major sporting event. This will be the fourth year in a row. Once we get to five, we can start talking about making central Florida the permanent home of the NFL’s game between the championship rounds and the Super Bowl.
