The Allstate Sugar Bowl game originally scheduled to be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on the evening of January 1, 2025 was postponed to the afternoon of the next day due to a terrorist attack that killed 14 people.
Law enforcement needs to focus on the investigation, prompting a rescheduling. The game went off without a hitch. Security was tight around the Superdome, a mile from the site of the attack. Hundreds of police officers, state troopers, homeland security agents and bomb-sniffing dogs patrolled the area.
Reschedule challenge
Mobile gaming presents logistical hurdles. Additionally, there is a time limit. There is another event scheduled for Jan. 1 at the Superdome, the day the game was postponed.
Ultimately, not all fans were able to adjust their travel plans, resulting in significantly empty seats despite 68,400 tickets being sold. Official attendance was 57,267.
“There are a lot of organizations that have to work together to make this happen. It’s a deeply collaborative process,” said Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans Inc., the official destination marketing and sales organization for the New Orleans tourism industry.
“We are grateful to the Notre Dame and Georgia fans who were able to unite and extend their stay in New Orleans. The Allstate Sugar Bowl has been hosted in New Orleans for 91 years, with the exception of 2006, when it was relocated to Atlanta due to Hurricane Katrina. It is a great partner and friend to the city,” Legg said.
Fans rushed to change flights and extend hotel stays. The New Orleans Marriott has extended reservation hours for those who want to attend the game. The company didn’t have to cancel any events, regional general manager Frank Zumbo said. “Our team was able to expand our event operations to accommodate and service internal group business,” Zumbo said.
American Airlines offers travel exemptions. Travelers who want to attend the postponed game can reschedule their flights at no additional cost.
Looking forward to Super Bowl 59
New Orleans is gearing up for an even bigger event: Super Bowl LIX on February 9
This is the 11th time the city has hosted the NFL championship game. In preparation for the game, the Caesars Superdome recently completed a $560 million renovation.
Ralph Brennan, owner of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, which operates five restaurants in New Orleans, remembers the 2002 Super Bowl being postponed because of 9/11. The race had to be postponed, disrupting a meeting of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
“NADA came out a week ago. It’s a community that comes together when necessary and makes things work,” Brennan said.
Ironically, NADA will meet in New Orleans from January 23 to 26, just two weeks before the Super Bowl. Approximately 22,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors are expected.
In a statement, NADA said it was working with the city and had “robust plans” in place for show safety.
The American Financial Services Association (AFSA), another group meeting in the city in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, is also ramping up security plans.
AFSA said in a statement: “Your AFSA team has been in contact with our host hotel, the Roosevelt Hotel, and is assured that the hotel has safety measures and procedures in place.”
“Similarly, following the attack, the Louisiana Governor’s Office has enhanced security procedures to be implemented in the coming weeks,” AFSA said.
Security and resiliency
Super Bowl weekend is popular among the corporate community, and the New Year’s Eve attack prompted planners to reassess security.
Diana McCaskill, CMP, CEO of Fruition Consulting, said her team is working to ensure the safety of the team she brought to the city ahead of the Super Bowl. “We are communicating with the hotel and CVB to understand what additional safety measures the city will take. Additionally, we are considering hiring security personnel for the team. We will allow attendees to exit if they feel uncomfortable,” McCas said Keel said.
From Hurricane Katrina to 9/11, New Orleans has bounced back from tragedy many times. “The spirit and resilience of our community will not be intimidated by this horrific act,” Ledger said. “We have been knocked down, but we will get back up through cooperation and determination.”
