HTA: There is a plan for Pro Bowl funds
The Hawaii Tourism Authority isn’t saying what it would do with the $5.15 million earmarked for the Pro Bowl if the game goes to Orlando, as expected, but it does not appear headed to the University of Hawaii.
The NFL has until May 31 to opt out of the final year of its contract with the HTA and reports paint Orlando as the likely site for at least 2017.
Bloomberg News and ESPN have reported the Pro Bowl is Orlando-bound for 2017. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, @FLGovScott, has tweeted, “Welcome back to the best state in the nation, @NFL #ProBowl! Looking forward to hosting everyone in Orlando.”
Under terms of its contract, the HTA would pay the NFL $5 million plus $152,250 for operational expenses if the game is held in Hawaii.
In response to a question from Rep. Richard Onishi (D, South Hilo-Keaau-Honuapo) during a March hearing about how the HTA would redirect the $5.15 million if the Pro Bowl isn’t played here, an HTA spokesman said, “We have a plan for the use of the funds. We have an alternate plan.”
Asked this month what that plan might be — or if it would include funding for UH — the HTA said it was premature to comment.
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“The NFL is not commenting on discussions about the 2017 Pro Bowl, and we respect their position and are following suit,” said Charlene Chan, HTA director of communications. “It’s premature to speculate otherwise.”
Several members of the Board of Regents have suggested in the past year that the HTA renew support of UH, which was granted $575,000 annually until 2013.
The urging came as a UH study last year said Manoa had $5.2 million in expenses “unique” to its geography and would, otherwise, operate in the black.
Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji has told legislators, “The Pro Bowl is kind of (a) sore subject for me. The (NFL) is a billion-dollar industry (and) we pay them $5 million to bring the game in. They bring in 20,000 people who spend X amount of dollars that we get X amount of tax dollars for. You know, that is a wash. We (UH) bring in 20,000 people (too). They get $5 million and we get nothing.”
Athletic director David Matlin has said he hopes to work with HTA on several future projects, including the Rainbow Warriors’ Aug. 27 game against California in Sydney, but has declined further comment.
The legislature this month passed a bill that, if signed by Gov. David Ige, would provide $3 million for Manoa and Hilo to divide.
9 responses to “HTA: There is a plan for Pro Bowl funds”
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Tax and spend!!! Why not use it to pay off debt?
There is no Hawaii deficit spending and no debt from operating costs (as compared to the Federal government)– it is illegal in Hawaii. If the funds were surplus they get returned to the taxpayers or applied to other operating needs. The legislature also cannot mix operating and capital costs. If the HTA has no acceptable plan for the funds, it should not be spent at all.
Uhhhh, not so fast. Hawaii is 10s of billions in debt to union pension funds, billions in debt to upgrade the Nei’s failing infrastructure, billions in debt to rail, billions in debt to education.
Yes. No problems with debt in the Nei. Blue skies everywhere, unions and bureaucrats in charge. BOHICA taxpayers.
UH Athletics? Why is it always reported that UH should get money for travel expenses. How about other programs in Hawaii? They have the same problems with getting teams to come to Hawaii to play. What about the high schools? It was great to have the state tournaments held on the neighbor islands this year. Lets do more of that.
The HTA & our local Visitor Industry companies obviously needs to do a better job in making our Legislators and the UH on its economic development mission. The UH forgets that many of our local industry companies provide financial help as sponsors and supporters for many of their annual sporting / seasonal tournaments.
The NFL duped the HTA and laughed ALL the way to the bank. Mufi was easy to bamboozle. This worthless game is likely not to be played at all in a year or two. Nobody cares about the new format. More than half the stadium was empty here in February. Awful game.
The other half was stuck on the freeway.
Baloney. Return the money to the general fund. If HTA cannot state what the money will be used for and now trying to find some reason to use the money they are not doing their job. The money is the tax payer’s money and was allocated specifically for the pro-bowl and now having plans in case the pro-bowl opts out and trying to gum up some reason the use the funds is not acceptable.
Have to agree. UH Sports have nothing to do with encouraging tourist visits. Funds should be applied to improving facilities geared to tourists, lsuch as surveillance equipment to catch vandals of beach bathrooms and park muggers.