NFL
Terror attack pushes NFL to increase Super Bowl security in New Orleans
Federal law enforcement officials announced that they will ramp up efforts for Super Bowl LIX after the Bourbon Street attack on New Year’s Day.

The eyes of the world will be on Caesars Superdome in New Orleans next month for the climax of the NFL season, Super Bowl LIX.
The event will be broadcast live in more than 195 countries and will be the focus of attention for the world of sport on Sunday, February 9. But all the attention and adoration also has a dark side, with officials forced to be increasingly aware of the threat of terror attack.
The situation was exacerbated by the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people and injured at least 57 others. A man drove a pickup truck through a crowded Bourbon Street, before engaging in a shootout with police. In the wake of that tragic event, law enforcement officials have confirmed that the security situation has been rethought ahead of Super Bowl weekend.
“We’ve increased our security posture significantly so that people can come here, they can see a strong law enforcement presence,” explained Eric DeLaune, special agent in charge of homeland security investigations in New Orleans.
Reflecting on what had been learnt from the New Year’s Day attack, DeLaune revealed that there were some elements of event security that would be improved ahead of February 9.
“Barriers may not have been working. There may have been some other issues that played into the impact of this event on January 1,” DeLaune continued. “But I can tell you the response is genuine. The response is because they want the city to be safer, they want Bourbon Street to be safer, and they don’t want to see an attack like this happen again.”
“I can see where somebody might have said there could have been more done, but I can tell you now that the stuff being done is not because of a Super Bowl. It’s not because of Mardi Gras,” he said. “It’s because they genuinely are concerned about the safety and security of the citizens they serve, and they’re trying to make things better.”
How many people will be in New Orleans for the Super Bowl?
More than 125,000 people are expected to travel to New Orleans for Super Bowl weekend and public places will be packed as locals look to soak up the atmosphere. NFL chief security officer Cathey Lanier confirmed that the January 1 attack will inform preparations made ahead of the showpiece game.
“I’d like to say it doesn’t change a lot in our security planning, but it does change things,” Lanier told ESPN. “Are we doing anything differently? Of course.”
Part of the preparation will include a public campaign to encourage people to be vigilant and report anything suspicious, whether in person or online. Law enforcement officials stress that while New Orleans will be the focus of the physical security efforts, information from elsewhere could prove just as important in making Super Bowl weekend a safe and enjoyable one.
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