Orlando hoping to take over as NFL's Pro Bowl host

Orlando could take over as host of the Pro Bowl next year after submitting a proposal to bring the game to Florida.

The annual match, played this year the weekend before Super Bowl 50, has been hosted for most of the last 36 years by the Hawaiian city of Honolulu.

Local officials feel the remodelled Citrus Bowl, home stadium of MLS side Orlando City, would be ideal for the game which features the best available players from the American and National conferences.

Honolulu remains in contention to host the 2017 event, an NFL spokesman confirmed, but there could also interest from Houston and Sydney, Australia.

"We've been very aggressively trying to showcase Orlando," said Steve Hogan, chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Sports.

"We believe it is the best city to host the Pro Bowl, and the NFL has given us the opportunity to pitch our city. We hope when all is said and done, we're going to be hosting the game."

The plan has received backing from Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs, although it would need a change to the area's Tourist Development Tax spending plan.

"We've been in discussions with leaders from Citrus Sports about the possibility of hosting the NFL Pro Bowl at the Citrus Bowl," she said in a statement.

"Currently we're refining the process for evaluating the use of TDT funds for such events. I am confident that once that effort is concluded, we will be able to compete to bring this marquee event to our community."