MILITARY PRESENCE RAMPS UP IN NEW ORLEANS AHEAD OF SUPER BOWL
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will compete in Super Bowl LIX. This year, the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, will host the biggest game in sports, barely over a month after the horrific terrorist attack suffered by the city. It should come as no surprise that the Big Easy is taking extra precautions. Super Bowl week is underway, but there is a notable increase in military and law enforcement to keep the peace.
Super Bowl Military Presence Increased for New Orleans Celebrations
The French Quarter suffered a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day where 14 people died, dozens more were injured, and the iconic neighborhood was marred with an unthinkable chapter to add to its illustrious history.
All of this is as officials in New Orleans prepare for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, which is why there is an increase of military and law enforcement personnel in the city for the big game.
Over 2,500 armed police and military personnel are already in place, keeping NOLA safe and deterring would-be attackers from ruining what should otherwise be a great sporting spectacle.
The Crescent City is expecting around 125,000 tourists to enjoy the many festivities found involving the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras during this time.
Mixed Reactions From French Quarter Residents
The New Year’s Day attack has been well documented, where Shamsud-Din Jabbar sadly hit many people on Bourbon Street using a rented Ford F-150 before being shot to death by police.
What has also become clearer in the fallout is that officials in New Orleans have known such an attack was possible, and had years to help prevent such damage, but didn’t do enough to stop it.
Now, with the Super Bowl coming to town, officials are ensuring visitors and residents alike that they are safe.
“We’re going above and beyond what we’ve seen in the past when we’ve hosted previously. We know we’re safer than we’ve ever been before,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
Tied for first with Miami, nobody has hosted the Super Bowl more than New Orleans, with 2025 making it the 11th time the city has put on the event. There’s an expectation of what should happen.
Theoretically, nobody should know how to keep people safer, which is why the decision to include a heavy military and police presence makes sense.
However, it’s still being met with mixed reactions. While many residents and tourists feel safer, it’s still unsettling for many who live in the area to have so many armed patrols in their neighborhood.
One of the things often lost about the French Quarter is that while it may be NOLA’s greatest tourist draw, it’s also home to everyday residents going to work, running errands, walking their dogs, etc.
The Big Easy is bringing out a litany of security measures ranging from barricades to bomb-sniffing dogs, and even no-fly zones.
Still, residents are concerned that despite their good intentions, if someone is going to be crazy enough to harm someone, there’s only so much you can do.
No Ice Chests
You’ll find National Guard members as part of the Super Bowl military patrols but another interesting security measure is also in place—no ice chests in the French Quarter due to an executive order.
“We went through great lengths through the executive order that we put together to balance the freedoms and constitutional rights that are enshrined in this state while making sure that we had enough security to be able to protect our citizens and so we believe the enhanced security zone is put in place in a very responsible manner that balances those two,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
A big part of the “laissez les bons temps rouler” atmosphere New Orleans is known for includes ice chests filled with every adult beverage you can imagine, however, because Jabber filled them with homemade explosives before his terror attack, the city is taking no chances.
Super Bowl Military Presence Complicated by Trump’s Attendance
As if a large crowd of people looking for entertainment on the same streets that suffered a recent terror attack wasn't enough to worry about, officials also have a unique security concern during the Super Bowl—President Donald Trump is attending.
Despite a well-documented disdain against the NFL, President Trump is going to make history as the first sitting leader of the Free World to attend.
The Super Bowl’s added military presence is an unfortunate necessity that will have plenty to do during the celebrations. Hopefully, order is maintained, and it’s nothing more than a few extra hours in one of our nation’s most vibrant cities during a festive time of the year.
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