The Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for New Year’s Day has been postponed after an attack in New Orleans left more than a dozen people dead and several more injured.
The game will be postponed to Thursday “at the exact same time,” said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, who attended a news conference with law enforcement officials. Officials confirmed the 24-hour postponement at a press conference shortly after.
The Superdome, which was scheduled to host the Georgia-Notre Dame quarterfinal game Wednesday night, was on lockdown for security after a truck plowed into a New Year’s crowd about a mile away.
The game was scheduled to kick off at 7:45 p.m. local time (8:45 p.m. ET/5:45 p.m. PT).
People with offices inside the Superdome, including Sugar Bowl and Sunbelt conference officials, were told not to report to work until further notice.
“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the horrific events that occurred early this morning,” Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said in a statement. “We are in ongoing consultation with authorities at the local, state, and federal levels. We will inform you as soon as we know the details.” ”
Officials are awaiting full approval from authorities that it is safe to hold the event at the 70,000-seat stadium as scheduled, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because discussions with authorities are sensitive and fluid.
The deaths occurred early on New Year’s Day when a driver plowed his pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter. The driver was killed in a shootout with police after the attack along Bourbon Street near Canal Street around 3:15 a.m., the FBI said.
The Georgia and Notres football teams arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and are staying in a downtown hotel just a few blocks from where the violence occurred.
The Superdome, about 20 blocks away, is also scheduled to host the Super Bowl on February 9th.
Notre Dame said in a statement Wednesday morning that it is “working with law enforcement and others to determine the full scope and impact of the tragedy.”
“We ask our fans to join us in praying for those injured and lost in this senseless act of violence. If you are staying at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, please make an appointment in advance. We welcome you to join us for the 11am Mass. Otherwise, please join us in prayer wherever you are.” (previously on Twitter).
We ask our fans to join us in praying for those injured and lost in this senseless act of violence. Guests staying at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel are welcome to attend the pre-scheduled 11:00 a.m. Mass. If not, please join us for prayer at 1 p.m.
— University of Notre Dame (@NotreDame) January 1, 2025
The incident, which the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism, occurred on Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the biggest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties.
The driver was killed in a shootout with police, the FBI said.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also described the killing as a “terrorist attack” at a news conference, and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.
New Orleans Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick said the driver was “desperate to cause carnage and damage.”
“It was a very deliberate act. This guy was trying to run over as many people as possible,” Kirkpatrick said.
