By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, June 03, 2016

Orlando, Fla., is serious about getting into the football business, both at the college and professional levels.

The NFL announced that the 2017 Pro Bowl will be hosted by recently renovated Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl. But that’s not all. Because the Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a $450 million renovation of their current stadium, the Dolphins are already moving their Aug. 25 home exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons to Orlando.

The Falcons-Dolphins preseason tilt will mark the first time since 1997 that an NFL exhibition game has been played at Orlando.

Coinciding with the relocation of the Pro Bowl from Honolulu, the NFL’s all-star game will return to a less-confusing AFC vs. NFC format after three years of having teams chosen similar to a pickup game. Orlando will host the next two Pro Bowls and holds an option on a third year.

The NFL, which feels that interest in the Pro Bowl had dwindled in recent years, had until Tuesday to notify Hawaii of its intent to move the game, and did so this past Tuesday.

Among the cities that bid for the Pro Bowl were Honolulu, Sydney, Australia and Houston.

The University of Miami is also looking at the possibility of playing an early 2016 home game in Orlando if the Dolphins’ stadium upgrades aren’t completed on schedule. There’s a possibility, according to the Orlando Sentinel, that the Hurricanes’ football opener against Florida A&M could easily move to Camping World Stadium.

Florida State has already scheduled its opener against Ole Miss to be played in Orlando on Sept. 5.

Civic leaders in Orlando feel the $250 million stadium renovation makes their city a destination for major events.