Super Bowl in Hawaii, say what?

No. Not yet, anyway.

However, Rep. John Mizuno D-30 (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter) hopes that a new resolution he is introducing this session will jump start discussions and negotiations to bring the National Football League championship game to the islands within the next 10 years.

It's an idea that hopes to propel Hawaii's tourism and entertainment economy to a whole new level, according to Rep. Mizuno. "We would be providing the biggest economic boost to our state," he said. "Certainly, the marketing and public relations benefits will remain with Hawaii long after the conclusion of such an event."

Hawaii has hosted the Pro Bowl at the Aloha Stadium the past 29 years and it has made a prodigious economic impact and has given Hawaii significant national exposure. The 2004 Pro Bowl brought in roughly 22, 000 visitors , which accounted for $29.5 million in visitor spending and $2.84 million in state taxes. In 2007, visitors spent more than $28 million.

Can you imagine what kind of economic impact the Super Bowl would have on Hawaii compared to that of the Pro Bowl?

According to a study by Michigan State University, 59, 500 out-of-state fans attended Super Bowl XL 2006 in Detroit. That's more than twice the attendance the Pro Bowl receives. Chi-Ching!

So how does the selection process work? Cities place bids to host a Super Bowl and then the NFL evaluates candidates in terms of stadium renovation and ability to host a Super Bowl before making their selection, which is usually made 3 - 5 years in advance. In 2011, the 45th Super Bowl will be played in Dallas. Therefore, Hawaii could - possibly - maybe be a contender for the 50th Super Bowl.

The National Football League owners has even considered London as a host for the Super Bowl!

According to a story in Pacific Business News in 2006, Aloha Stadium management wanted to upgrade the complex so that Hawaii could make a credible bid as a Super Bowl host in 2016. In order to even be considered as a candidate the stadium must have 32 box seats for the owners and 60,000 stadium seats; therefore, the stadium would have to build luxury box seats and add 10,000 more seats.

An excerpt from the PBN story:

For Honolulu to seriously enter the mix, the stadium would first have to permanently lock its movable stands into a football configuration. That is the only way that the decaying, 30-year-old structure could support the extra weight from 32 luxury suites and at least 10,000 more seats, according to a stadium planning study commissioned by the state.

The configuration issue also frames the debate in the stadium's boardroom about how to renovate the facility.

As football season comes to an end this weekend, living rooms, sports bars and night clubs will be packed with beer-guzzling Patriot and Giants fans -- or haters (wink, wink Cowboys fans).

As the 2008 legislative session begins, lawmakers are stirring up talk about bringing the Super Bowl to Hawaii and also hearing proposals to transfer the authority of the Aloha Stadium to the University of Hawaii. These two issues are like partners in crime. It will be interesting to see where they both go.

Hey, it might just take you straight to Super Bowl L -- via H1 Freeway, that is.