Superdome security a focus after deadly attack in New Orleans leads to Sugar Bowl postponement
College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl postponed a day
Superdome in New Orleans was on lockdown for security sweeps on Wednesday after a truck driver plowed into a crowd of New Year's revellers about 1.5 kilometres away earlier in the morning, killing at least 15 people.
The College Football Playoff quarter-final Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame, which will be played at the 70,000-seat Superdome, was postponed after the attack, pushed back to Thursday night, said Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley.
"Public safety is paramount," Hundley said at a media briefing alongside federal, state and local officials, including Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
"All parties all agree that it's in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours."
The casualties occurred when a driver rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revellers in New Orleans' famed French Quarter early on New Year's Day, injuring more than 30 people. The driver was killed in a firefight with police following the attack at about 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street near Canal Street, according to the FBI.
Police seeking possible additional suspects
Officials say residents and visitors should feel safe in New Orleans, even as they have repeatedly acknowledged that they are aggressively seeking possible additional suspects in the attack.
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said the decision to postpone the game "was not done lightly."
"It was done with one single thing in mind: public safety — making sure that the citizens and visitors of this great city, not only for this event, but for every event you come to in Louisiana, that you will be safe," Carter said.
"And we will use every resource possible."
Landry said he had a message for those thinking, "Man, do I really want to go to the Sugar Bowl tomorrow?"
"I tell you one thing: Your governor's going to be there," Landry said. "That is proof, believe you me, that that facility and this city is safer today than it was yesterday."
Hundley said work was underway to "set up a safe and efficient and fun environment" at and around the Superdome on Thursday night.
"We live in the fun-and-games world with what we do, but we certainly recognize the importance of this and support [public safety efforts] 100 per cent."
People with offices in the Superdome — including officials with the Sugar Bowl and Sun Belt Conference — were told not to come into work until further notice. Some credentialed Superdome employees were permitted into offices by Wednesday afternoon.
The Georgia and Notre Dame football teams arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and have been staying at downtown hotels just blocks away from where the violence occurred.
More police officers coming in
New Orleans city council president Helena Moreno told WDSU-TV earlier Wednesday, before the postponement was announced, that the security perimeter around the Superdome was being "extended to be a larger zone."
"So expect obviously extra security," she said. "There are more police officers who are coming in."
The Superdome, which is about 20 blocks away, also is scheduled to host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
The first Super Bowl after the Sept. 11 attack in 2001 was also held in New Orleans, and there was a massive security perimeter for that game, including street closures surrounding the Superdome and officers — including snipers — on the tops of surrounding high-rise buildings, as well as on the roof of the dome itself.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans," the NFL said in a statement. "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 continue as they do with all major NFL events," the statement said. "We are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience."