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The Playoff quarterfinal on the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed after a truck plowed right into a Recent Yr’s crowd a few mile away early Wednesday, killing a minimum of 10 people.
The sport, originally scheduled for Wednesday night on the 70,000-seat Superdome, has been pushed back 24 hours to Thursday night.
“For now, that’s the plan,” Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said.
The Superdome was on lockdown for security sweeps on Wednesday morning, when individuals with offices within the Superdome — including officials with the Sugar Bowl and Sun Belt Conference — were told not to come back into work until further notice.
Some credentialed Superdome employees were permitted into offices by Wednesday afternoon.
The casualties occurred when a driver rammed a pickup truck right into a crowd of revelers in Recent Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on Recent Yr’s Day. The motive force was killed in a firefight with police following the attack at about 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street near Canal Street, the FBI said.
The Georgia and Notre Dame football teams arrived in Recent Orleans on Sunday and have been staying at downtown hotels just blocks away from where the violence occurred.
An announcement from the University of Georgia Athletic Association said that “all team personnel and members of the official team travel party have been accounted for.”
Recent Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno told WDSU-TV: “What you’ll see today for the Sugar Bowl, which can go on, is that the perimeter for security across the Superdome has been prolonged to be a bigger zone.”
“So expect obviously extra security. There are more cops who’re coming in.”
The Superdome, which is about 20 blocks away, is also scheduled to host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
The primary Super Bowl after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, also was held in Recent Orleans, and there was an enormous security perimeter for that game including street closures surrounding the Superdome and officers — including snipers — on the tops of surrounding high-rise buildings, in addition to on the roof of the dome itself.
“We’re deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in Recent Orleans,” the NFL said in an announcement. “The NFL and the local host committee have been working collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies the past two years and have developed comprehensive security plans.
“These planning sessions will proceed as they do with all major NFL events,” the statement continued. “We’re confident attendees could have a secure and enjoyable Super Bowl experience.”
