The Hawai'i Tourism Authority is continuing negotiations with the National Football League to determine the future of the NFL Pro Bowl in Hawai'i.

In an interview with ESPN's Chris Mortensen this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said there was "a strong possibility" that the game could be moved to the week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl to enhance viewer interest and finishing the NFL season "on a very climactic note which is the Super Bowl."

The Pro Bowl, which is worth as much as $39.4 million annually to the state, has traditionally been played a week after the Super Bowl.

The current contract between the HTA and NFL expires in 2009, with a mutual option year in 2010. Under terms of the contact, the state pays the NFL approximately $4.2 million to host the game. The NFL controls parking, concessions and advertising signage.

Goodell's latest comments raised lingering concerns that the NFL may be looking to relocate the game to a site closer to the Super Bowl once the contract expires. There has also been speculation that the league might play the game in Beijing to capitalize on the growing Chinese market for the sport.

But such talk may be premature.

HTA president and chief executive officer Rex Johnson said he had an initial conversation with NFL senior vice president of events Frank Supovitz in which the subject of moving the date of the game was discussed. Another meeting is planned for later this month.

"We've had conversations with the NFL folks about moving the game to the dead week between the end of the playoffs and the Super Bowl," Johnson said. "I have not heard anything about relocating the game. There are a ton of scenarios from one extreme to another, but we have not talked about moving the game (out of Hawai'i) in any shape or form."

Goodell said a change of date would not happen this season because of commitments to the state of Hawai'i and broadcast partners, but could occur as early as 2009.

Under the existing contract, if the NFL moved the game for one year, it would be required to add another year in Hawai'i to the contract.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.