A game that isn’t attended by nearly a third of the players invited narrowly avoided being blacked out on local television.
Pro Bowl 2013: Blackout avoided in Hawaii
The NFL announced enough tickets have been sold for Sunday’s Pro Bowl game to avoid local blackout in the Hawaii market. The game has come under criticism recently for the effort put forward by the players, something that would have intensified if it was forced to be blacked out on local television.
USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 NFL Pro Bowl will be aired in local Honolulu markets, the league announced Friday. While there are still a limited number of tickets available for sale, enough have been sold to ensure the game will be aired, in accordance with league broadcasting rules.
With 22 players not scheduled to participate in the game despite being named to the original rosters (10 from injury, 12 from their teams inclusion in the Super Bowl, held one week after the Pro Bowl), there are questions surrounding the desire of the players to even participate. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was one of the biggest critics of the effort of the players in last year's game, taking those comments to the media.
Rodgers was selected for this game, but is sitting out due to injury.
This week, veterans like Denver's Peyton Manning have demanded players give an effort in the game, hoping to stir up enough interest in fans.
Whether it worked on local fans in Honolulu remains to be seen, but the game will be aired both locally and nationally. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Sunday from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
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