Written by Mike Bianchi at Orlando Sentinel.com
Not only did we find out on Thursday that Frank Vogel, one of NBA’s best coaches, is coming to Orlando, but it appears the NFL Pro Bowl is coming here, too.
What an historic, euphoric sports day in the City Beautiful.
On the heels of Vogel accepting the Magic’s offer to become the team’s next head coach came perhaps an even more far-reaching Central Florida sports story: The NFL has reportedly accepted our offer to host the annual Pro Bowl.
Bloomberg.com — a reputable business and news website — cited three people familiar with the negotiations confirming that Orlando had beaten out the event’s customary home in Honolulu as well as Houston and Sydney, Australia, to host the game.
The NFL did not the confirm the report, nor did city or county officials. A spokesperson from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office said via email, “The City hasn’t received official notification yet.”
Translation: The City doesn’t want to do anything to blow this deal and is waiting for league officials to officially announce the news that Orlando finally has its foot in the door with the NFL — the most powerful, prestigious sports entity in this country.
Granted, the Pro Bowl is not the Super Bowl, but we have to start somewhere. And this is an incredibly lofty place to start beginning this January when it appears the Pro Bowl is going to be played at Camping World Stadium the week before the Super Bowl in Houston. Who knows where this could lead someday for Orlando — the biggest metropolitan area in the country without an NFL team.
Can you say Orlando Jaguars?
Once again, Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan and other city and county officials have shown us that Orlando is serious about not only being a tourist mecca, but a sports mecca as well.
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