Pro Bowl to be played in Hawaii

New York, NY – Despite a perceived downtick in the quality of play, the Pro Bowl will be held again next year in Hawaii.

The NFL's all-star game will take place at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium a week before the Super Bowl on Jan. 27, the league and players union announced on Wednesday.

Ray Anderson, the NFL executive vice president of football operations, said players made it clear they wanted to keep playing the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

He said the league would support an initiative to improve the game after the low quality of play in this year's Pro Bowl led to discussions on whether or not to cancel it.

"We have had many discussions with the players in recent years about the Pro Bowl and they recognize that the quality of the game has not been up to NFL standards," Anderson said in a statement.

NFL Players Association president Domonique Foxworth said players believe the Pro Bowl is an important tradition and the union worked hard to preserve a way for them to be recognized for their achievements on the field.

It will be the 33rd time the game is held at Aloha Stadium and fourth year in a row it takes place a week before the Super Bowl.

The league moved the game to a week before the Super Bowl in 2010 and held it in South Florida at the site of Super Bowl XLIV. It returned to Hawaii the next year.