NFL Brings Pro Bowl Games to San Francisco's Moscone Center

League experiments with hosting all-star event inside convention center ahead of Super Bowl

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:39pm by Ben Kaplan

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The NFL is taking its annual Pro Bowl showcase to a new venue this year, moving the event to San Francisco's Moscone Center as part of the Super Bowl festivities. The league is transforming the convention center into a flag football arena, with a field placed directly on the concrete floor and a ceiling height of just 37 feet, forcing quarterbacks to adjust their throws. Attendance will be limited to around 2,000 fans who will serve as 'seat-fillers' rather than traditional ticket holders.

Why it matters

The move to Moscone Center represents the NFL's efforts to reinvent the Pro Bowl, which has faced declining viewership in recent years. By hosting the event in the same location as the Super Bowl Experience, the league aims to consolidate its postseason programming and create a more vibrant, carnival-like atmosphere around the big game.

The details

The Pro Bowl field is 80 yards by 65 yards, making it the 'biggest venue we've ever had within a venue,' according to NFL Vice President of Events Nicki Ewell. The low ceiling height will require quarterbacks to adapt their throwing styles, and there are no plans to set up goalposts for punters and kickers. Fans will not be able to purchase tickets, but will instead have the opportunity to serve as 'seat-fillers' inside the 'Thunderdome' arena.

  • The Pro Bowl Games are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
  • The Super Bowl Experience at Moscone Center will be open to the public from Tuesday, February 3 through Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Nicki Ewell

NFL Vice President of Events who oversaw the planning and transformation of Moscone Center for the Pro Bowl Games.

Roger Goodell

NFL Commissioner who supported the idea to change up the Pro Bowl format and move the event to a non-traditional venue.

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What they’re saying

“We're testing it because we want to show flag [football] as a standalone product separate from an NFL stadium. It's a different game.”

— Nicki Ewell, NFL Vice President of Events (SFGATE)

“We do want to try and we want to take risks. That's what the commissioner would say to us, 'Try new things.' We're really celebrating flag football as this global sport, and we're trying to create [and figure out] what is the arena for that.”

— Nicki Ewell, NFL Vice President of Events (SFGATE)

What’s next

The NFL will closely monitor fan engagement and viewership for the Pro Bowl Games at Moscone Center, as the league considers making this a permanent change or exploring other non-traditional venues for the event in the future.

The takeaway

By moving the Pro Bowl to Moscone Center, the NFL is taking a bold step to reinvent its annual all-star showcase, prioritizing innovation and fan experience over tradition. This experiment could pave the way for the league to further embrace flag football and find new ways to engage audiences beyond the standard football stadium setting.