Now that the NFL has reached agreement with its players on a 10-year collective bargaining agreement, local officials expect to resume negotiations on a new Pro Bowl deal soon.

"I would say we will have conversations with them (the NFL) very shortly," said Mike McCartney, Hawaii Tourism Authority president and chief executive officer.

An NFL spokesman said he had "no update on discussions with the state."

Hawaii is scheduled to host the 2012 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, but negotiations for 2013 and beyond had been put on the back burner pending the CBA agreement, NFL and HTA officials have said.

Now, "we’ll start formally talking with them again," McCartney said. "I think there is still a lot for us to talk about," McCartney said.

Hawaii has hosted the Pro Bowl ever year but one (2010) since January 1980, and last month Gov. Neil Abercrombie sharply questioned what the state pays the NFL to hold its all-star game here. The state is scheduled to pay $4 million, plus $152,250 for game-day operations, for the 2012 game.

McCartney said the installation of $1.76 million turf at Aloha Stadium, which is scheduled to be concluded this month, is something the NFL has been very interested in.