APNeil Abercrombie, Hawaii’s governor since December 2010, isn’t a fan of the deal that was struck to keep the Pro Bowl in Honolulu for 2011 and 2012, after a one-year Miami hiatus in 2010.
Hawaii now pays $4 million per year for the privilege of hosting the game.
“You can’t do things like give 4 million bucks to a $9 billion football industry and not give any money to children,” Abercrombie said while announcing early-childhood education and health plans, per the Associated Press. “You’ve got this spectacle of these multimillionaires and billionaires out there arguing about how they’re going to divide it up, and then they come and ask us to bribe them with $4 million to have a scrimmage out here in paradise.”
Of course, Abercrombie’s hissy fit dismisses the fact that, according to Hawaii tourism officials, the 2011 Pro Bowl brought 17,000 visitors to Hawaii, generated $28.15 million in spending, and resulted in $3.07 million in taxes paid to the state.
Former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann negotiated the contract that brought the game back to Hawaii, and defended the payment to the NFL. “It creates jobs, it’s an economic revenue generator, it provides positive impressions throughout the United States,” Hannemann said. “Honolulu is a great sports town. Sports tourism is very important to us.”
But Abercrombie thinks that the state’s new same-sex civil union law will more than offset the Pro Bowl money. “We’ll get more out of civil unions in a weekend then we’ll get out of those guys,” Abercrombie said. “We’re going to market. Don’t worry about marketing.”
It’s currently fashionable to bash the NFL based on the lockout, but the reality is that the NFL will remain a major draw after the labor dispute ends. And if Hawaii doesn’t want to pay $4 million to host the Pro Bowl, someone else gladly will.
Not to dive too much into politics, but this is just a shameless ploy. How can you tell? It’s a politician playing the ‘think about the children’ card
Exactly why is it that the NFL has Pro Bowl?
So Hawaii’s government spends $4M from it’s coffers to generate $3.07M in taxes to replace it with? Does that mean it costs the gov $930,000 to host the probowl? $28.15M is generated in spending, but ow much of that is above what normally would be generated without the PB? And how much of that money actually finds it’s way into the general public’s hands and not just the promoters? I mean the original $4M came out of the public taxes and not from taxing just the promoters. If my kid needed things I couldn’t provide and the state was basically paying to have millionaires come take a vacation, I guess I’d get a little hot about it too. The rich just get richer from the back of the poorer.
The fact he called it a “scrimmage” is hilarious.
I live here in Hawaii and frankly Ambercrombie needs to shut his mouth.
If you have a problem with the probowl Neil, and your hosting the fastest growing, and dominating force that is known as the NFL, you dont bite a hand that feeds you.
The NFLs ties are far reaching, and you never know who youre going to need to turn to in the future there MR. Crombie.
Find a way to make it MORE PROFITABLE Mr. Crombie, you know, earn your money.
Get into the broadcast rights, etc, etc. Develop a state tax on broadcasting sporting events on a certain scale, or something to that effect, to find a niche where you can make it work.
Comparing the NFL, stud team game of all time, and compare it to civil unions, and your already ticking people off.
Not the most benefitting comparison there Mr. Crombie.
We elected you for what exactly?
bronco1st says:
If my kid needed things I couldn’t provide and the state was basically paying to have millionaires come take a vacation, I guess I’d get a little hot about it too. The rich just get richer from the back of the poorer.
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I guess I don’t see why I’d need the State to provide for my children. That’s what parents used to be for.
It’s just the taxpayers back being broken by State entitlements.
So tell me, why do they need to spend $4M to bring people to Hawaii in February? The governor is right.
As a resident of Hawaii, let me just say this guy is a Grade A Clown. He is a moron, he is trying to deflect the press from the fact he raided our emergency hurricane fund to pay for all the excess spending he approved.
Any 4th grader could tell you that making money in the long run is the smart thing but this is a chiseled veteran of the Pelosi Congress. Sense is checked at the door in favor of spending money towards pet projects.
Abercrombie the clown will be begging for the $26 Mil he just kissed away in a year when the Pro Bowl doesn’t come back. This guy is a moron, which shows you the mentality of the entire state that he won in a landslide…
What an idiot! This guy uses the give to the children line and here we are, a state with an education system that is way below the national average. My mom who is a teacher’s aide retired in order to save someone else from losing their job due to the state laying off a bunch of workers. Yet he is pushing forward with a billion dollar rail system that is said will cost more then what was originally projected, built a fence that cost several millions of dollars around Honolulu Harbor just to keep people from fishing there and another few million will go towards placing power lines in Waikiki under ground. He also raised property taxes, vehicle registration, state excise tax, the tax on gas, raised the fee on my kids A+ program and fees on the school bus. He uses the excuse that the state is several billion in the hole (geeze I wonder why?)to justify the hikes and now he is pushing a money maker out the door? At east I can say I did not vote for the guy.
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Not the Pro Bowl!
I will give him this, as one of a only a handful of same-sex union states, they will generate a ton of money, especially since Hawaii will be one of the top spots to do so considering that it’s already a huge vacation spot so you can knock out the “union” and the “honeymoon” at the same time.
With that said, not sure I agree with him on this particular issue.
And how much is the P.R. and associated airtime that hosting the Pro Bowl provides worth? Given that a 30-second commercial at the Super Bowl goes for over $2.5 million… How many times are they going to be mentioning Hawaii during the playoffs? I’m betting that the ROI is actually pretty good, all things considered.
I’ve always thought that the Pro Bowl should be played in cities that host NFL teams. Their the ones that take on the true fiscal responsibility of ensuring that the league survives.
Honestly – why don’t they have a Pro Bowl in Green Bay? If the players don’t play then they don’t get the “Pro Bowl” benefits from their contracts. Make it a true play-or-no-pay game.
I know… you’re saying Green Bay in February? Who would want to play in that game? Football players would. True and honest “I play the game because I LOVE to” players. Aren’t those the ones we want to see play?
I pay an extra tax because my city hosts an NFL team. I’d love to have a chance to see a Pro Bowl game. If it’s always in Hawaii I likely won’t ever be able to but I still have to pay to support them going to Hawaii.
If Hawaii keeps the Pro Bowl they should also reimburse everyone who pays taxes that support the NFL and don’t get to go to the Pro Bowl.
Really rather simple.
Even Hawaii hates the Pro Bowl. I think it’s less popular than Hitler.
Did he just pit NFL football vs Gay marriages?
I would tell the NFL to shove it. They want the game in HA. Players complained that it wasn’t there. So why pay extortion money? The NFL has become just another bad corporation. They abuse and take advantage all for the sake of money. I see it first hand with the hometown Eagles. It is ALWAYS money first. Always what in the best interest of the company and not what’s in the best interest of the customer and fan. If Goodell has been about anything in his tenure, it is about maximizing profit and futhering the image of the NFL as a cold, calculating corporation. It’s no longer about the teams, the game the fans, and fun. It’s about money first and foremost. $4 M is chump change to the NFL, but they extorted it out of the state of HA. to get an exhibition game played there. Who needs the pro bowl anyway?
I’m guessing the new governor is a democrat.
’808smith says: “Any 4th grader could tell you that making money in the long run is the smart thing but this is a chiseled veteran of the Pelosi Congress. “‘
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Nice rant, but your bias is showing. Teabag much?
You should leave Hawaii. Mississippi is waiting with open arms!
He blasts the NFL, told us to “think about the children”, then boldly states he’ll make up for it with all the same-sex marriages the state will approve…. Think about the children, idiot! Let’s have the Rainbow state known as the place to get married if you’re in a same-sex relationship! It’s kind of a contradictory argument. Even the most ardent Liberals have to realize this.
“We’ll get more out of civil unions in a weekend then we’ll get out of those guys,” Abercrombie said. “We’re going to market. Don’t worry about marketing.”
So his marketing plan is to speak poorly about the largest, most universally liked sport in the country and place his state’s finances on one of the most polorizing political subjects in the US AND advertise that you’re doing it for the money?
Coming soon to Hawaii: Abortion Island!
Yikes.
The governor Abercrombie looks like he is an active participant in the civil union movement in Hawaii.
Now they just need to legalize cannabis in Hawaii, revenue from that would trump the ProBowl and same sex marriages combined.
lostsok says:
Jun 11, 2011 7:35 AM
’808smith says: “Any 4th grader could tell you that making money in the long run is the smart thing but this is a chiseled veteran of the Pelosi Congress. “‘
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Nice rant, but your bias is showing. Teabag much?
You should leave Hawaii. Mississippi is waiting with open arms!
—————————————————-Mississippi doesn’t want either one of you.
If HI had R gov you people would be hailing him as a hero. That’s the problem with you sheep – you say and think whatever Fox News tells you to, and you know that you do that because you somehow think that critical thinking skills are a bad thing.
My gay sister adopted, with her partner, two little girls who were being sexually abused by their father while the.mother was high on crack. One could not even speak at 4 years old. Now they are healthy, normal middle schoolers who.have two moms who love them. How exactly is my sisters civil union bad for these kids?
The guy is an unhinged moonbat.
doods right…
it’s a scrimmage
it’s another example of States that can’t keep education going in this economy wasting money
they’ll make more promoting tourism
millionaires and billionaires don’t need to be bribed to have a vacation
Burgundyandgold. Redskin fans are not interested in you or your sister.
Isnt this the same cat that cant find an old birth certificate?
@ burgandyandgold: This is just somebody trying to force their religious beliefs and morals on other people. It has nothing to do with the NFL, the pro bowl, or anything other than that. I would think that Ha. would be happy that they have a governor who isn’t afraid to tackle the issues and refuses to bribe the NFL to come to his state and make billions playing a fake game.
He probably has a point. It’s not like the hotels won’t be sold out in Hawaii in February without the Pro Bowl.
Granted those visitors likely spend more per capita – but does that offset the $4 million?
The only value of the $4 million is to keep Hawaii top of mind for people watching the Pro Bowl on TV as a tourist destination.
Seeing as so few watch the Pro Bowl now one questions the value.
I’m sorry, but no matter your political bent, this Abercrombie is a buffoon.
Yes, you spend $4m to generate $3m in tax revenue + $28m in tourist spending — you know, money that goes directly into the coffers of those rich waiters, hotel managers, bartenders, and so on and so forth. In turn, that $28m will ALSO BE TAXED as the people who earn it spend it right there where they live: Hawaii. Maybe a new job or two will be created…? Heaven forbid.
Instead of looking at the either/or decision of whether to host the Pro Bowl OR offer same-sex civil unions, how about looking at the fact that you can now count on some tourism dollars FROM BOTH! Is there some problem with both? Am I missing something?
It’s not a moral or political issue, per se, but an economic one. I am guessing that if this guy tells the NFL to take a hike, they will (of course) do so — and this guy will be a one-term governor, while another city drops to their knees to thanks their lucky stars that they get to host the Pro Bowl, instead.
The NFL Pro bowl is by far, the worst of the major sports all star games. The top players don’t want to be there and nobody really plays that hard. The only reasons the players care is for a contract bonus and a trip to Hawaii in February. It’s pretty much un-watchable and is more of a reward for the players than it is entertainment for the fans.
I wouldn’t pay the NFL to play the game, but the whole “for the children” line is such a crock. The US spends more per child on K-12 education than any country in the world outside of Switzerland and we don’t get nearly enough bang for our taxpayer dollars. The education establishment is ripping of the kids and the taxpayers both.
If the NFL wants to reward the players for their individual achievements and play the Pro Bowl, Hawaii is the best place to do it, but no taxpayer dollars should be given to the league to have their game.
Civil unions! YAY!!!
Play the “Pro Bowl” here in Cleveland and see how many players show up.
bronco1st said:
If my kid needed things I couldn’t provide and the state was basically paying to have millionaires come take a vacation, I guess I’d get a little hot about it too. The rich just get richer from the back of the poorer.
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beauregard said:
I guess I don’t see why I’d need the State to provide for my children. That’s what parents used to be for.
It’s just the taxpayers back being broken by State entitlements.
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Did you read the part where I said “things I couldn’t provide” in like being sick, disabled, a victim of some circumstance like natural disasters or whatever. The word “couldn’t” means unable to – not didn’t want to. It’s people like you that should wind up victim’s of their own lack of compassion. I hope nothing terrible should happen to you while people sat back and said, “NO I WON”T HELP” because, “it’s just the taxpayers back being broken by State entitlements”. Grow a conscience along with some compassion.
The politicizing of everything is really sad.
As for the pro-bowl, it is the ONLY game that makes sense as a “traveling” game in Europe/Japan/Mexico etc.. The best–read: popular–players still get their vacation reward, no team is screwed out of a home game that actually counts, and the league gets their worldwide exposure–read: revenue–by making (theoretically) the widely known players available to “overseas” fans.
Uh… I would give 4 million to get 28 million… just saying.
Someone would have to bribe me 4 mil to watch the pro bowl
Mr. Abercrombie should be drug tested immediately. He’s a product of the 1960′s drug induced haze of misguided ideas coming from spoiled naive little hippie brats who had never achieved anything more that recently growing pubic hair. They were all about love….but hated American capitalism. Their wacky ideas and mindset came from too many acid trips and the naivete’ of youth. Mr. Abercrombie appears as a classic example of a 1960′s acid tripping refugee caught in a time warp and still trying to do as much damage to the American capitalistic system as he can. I think Mr. Abercrombie needs to be immediately drug tested. My guess is that he’s on an acid trip right now.
I agree with bronco1st. Politics has nothing to with it and I find it comical when everyone refers to politics as a motive. Common sense you spend 4M to make 3M. I don’t think they also included the cost of additional security for the game as well. Any wonder why governments are in debt and can’t get out of it. I guess the other people supporting this are in debt as well. The businesses should take up a collection and hire the NFL if they think it is so valuable to them.
I like the idea of putting the NFL in its place. More and more I am seeing them just as a bunch of dumb jocks that are straight up bullies. Players and owners both.
I am tired of the whole country kissing these guys butts to play a game.
udub says:
Jun 11, 2011 1:22 AM
Not to dive too much into politics, but this is just a shameless ploy. How can you tell? It’s a politician playing the ‘think about the children’ card
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couldn’t agree more! politicians played that same card in Seattle when we needed an arena built to keep the Sonics in town. Do you really think that money actually makes it where they say it will?
“jthom19802 says: Jun 11, 2011 3:15 AM
…so you can knock out the “union” and the “honeymoon” at the same time….”
Gross.
Throw out the politics and go by the numbers. Generating 28 million in the local economy and having yearly advertisements to a very large fan base is worth 4 million. Civil Unions and “the children” are political cop outs right now since the Pro Bowl will actually generate more money locally than it costs. You would actually bring more money for “the children” if you could bring more events to Hawaii, not push them away.
Also Hi, should be celebrating the fact that VERY rich NFL players and owners wanted to bring the Pro Bowl back to their home, advertise that instead of trashing it.
I bet he could make that $4 Mil back by opening up the birth certificate store to non-muslim Americans too.
One: since when do gay marriage (or civil unions or what-have-you) have anything to do with football?
Two: regardless of anyone’s thoughts about the morality of gay unions, how is this an “either-or” choice with the Pro Bowl?
Three: spending $4M to get $3M doesn’t make financial sense and is how governments get into debt and deficit crises. There is a myth that creating more revenue automatically generates more tax revenue and jobs, but there is no empirical evidence that this is the case.
Four: debates over the morality of gay unions and their impact on children doesn’t belong on a football website. I’m sure there are plenty of people on the Fox News or MSNBC websites that would love to argue about this issue ad nauseum. If you want to debate gay marriage, take it somewhere else.
More football, less non-football-related politics. The story should be on PFT, but many of the comments belong elsewhere.
How do liberal cooks like this get elected? You should be required to pass a basic business knowledge test in order to run for public office.
There is no way that Hawaii won’t recoup the $4MM investment when you think of the taxes, fees, permits and the tourism income generated from the game. After all do you really think someone is going to fly to Hawaii for a single day of the game – no way! They’re going to be spending money there for a week at a minimum.
Goofball libs like this nutcase need to go while we still have a country!
And how much tax is generated from that 28 million in tourist spending? Its at least 1.3 million in Oahu (4.7% general excise tax). So contrary to certain people here of a certain political persuasion, They’re spending 4 million to get 4.3 million or they’re profiting 300k a year. Guess dumbass wants to take 300k away from the children. Not to mention the advertising of pro-bowl week goes out the door.
Has anyone Ever heard “spend money to make money” I guess that saying is lost in the liberal nanny state society we live in where everyone expects something for nothing.
Zagg you are an idiot. Spend 4M to make 1.3 in taxes?