Sugar Bowl updates: Everything we know about the status of the playoff game between Notre Dame and Georgia
A deadly attack in New Orleans has cast a shadow on Wednesday night’s college football playoff matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia.
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At least 15 people are dead and over 30 injured after a suspected terrorist plowed into a crowd of revelers celebrating New Year’s festivities in New Orleans’ popular French Quarter neighborhood.
FBI agents are now leading the investigation into the suspected terrorist attack on Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, as people celebrated the start of the New Year.
Besides ringing in the New Year, tens of thousands of University of Georgia and Notre Dame fans descended upon New Orleans to attend the Allstate Sugar Bowl, one of this year’s College Football Playoff games. A parade was held in the French Quarter at 2 p.m. local time on New Year’s Eve that featured marching bands, floats and dance groups.
The parade helped kick off the city’s New Year’s festivities as well as the big matchup at the Caesers Superdome, which was scheduled to kick off on Wednesday evening.
What is the status of the game?
The game has been postponed until January 2, with kickoff at 4pm ET. The game will be shown on ESPN.
“All parties agree that it’s in the best interests of everybody and of public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours,” Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said during a press conference.
The game was initially set to begin at 7:45 p.m. local time on New Year’s Day inside the Caesars Superdome.
In the hours after the attack, Hundley said that the organization was coordinating with local and federal officials about whether to stick to the schedule.
“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning,” Hundley said in a statement shared with The Independent. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
What have officials said?
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said in a press conference on Wednesday morning that she wanted the city and its visitors to “continue enjoying” New Orleans despite the horrific attack.
“We are going to make sure our routes and our Superdome are safe today for the game, and yet we had this tragic event and we’re sorry to everyone, but we do want you to go about the day, just stay away from Bourbon Street,” she said.
The NFL also released a statement in the wake of the tragedy. The Sugar Bowl is set to be played in Caesars Superdome, where the Sugar Bowl is also held.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans. Our thoughts are with the victims, the New Orleans community and all those affected. 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,” the league said. “These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events and we are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience.”
Republican Senator John Neely Kennedy of Louisiana said it was “wise” for officials to postpone.
“There’s just too much stuff we don’t know, and it’s just not worth it,” he said during a press conference Wednesday.
Who is playing?
The 91st Annual Sugar Bowl will feature SEC champion and No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
This game is a quarterfinal matchup in the College Football Playoff, which is in its first year of an expanded 12-team format. Notre Dame beat the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round to face the Bulldogs, who received a bye.
The winner of this game will move on to the semifinal round next week to face No. 6 Penn State at the Orange Bowl in Miami Lakes, Florida.
Other bowl games respond
The Tournament of Roses and the city of Pasadena, California — ahead of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl — said in a statement that they “extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans following this morning’s tragic events.”
Adding that they stood “in solidarity with the entire state during this difficult time,” Pasadena reassured visitors and fans that the city undergoes months of preparation for its New Year’s Day parade and has a “hard shut down of vehicles along the entire Parade route in addition to very robust vehicle barriers at intersections.”
The Atlanta Police Department also responded by noting that it would be increasing security ahead of Wednesday’s Peach Bowl.
“We acknowledge the concerns raised following the events earlier this morning in New Orleans, LA. In advance of the Peach Bowl, the Atlanta Police Department had already implemented increased security measures, including the deployment of additional officers,” the department said. “In light of today’s development and as an added precaution, specialized units and additional personnel will be further deployed to the Downtown and Midtown areas to ensure the continued safety and security of residents and visitors.”