A tragic attack on New Year’s Day has led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl, originally scheduled for Wednesday night. The College Football Playoff quarterfinal game between Georgia (seeded 2nd) and Notre Dame (seeded 7th) will now take place on Thursday, January 2, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game is set to kick off at 4 p.m. ET.
The decision to delay the game was made following discussions between the College Football Playoff, ESPN, the Southeastern Conference, and representatives from Georgia and Notre Dame. The Sugar Bowl CEO stated that all parties agreed postponing the game was necessary to ensure public safety and to create a secure and enjoyable environment for attendees.
The postponement comes after a devastating incident in New Orleans’ French Quarter early on January 1. A man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, bypassing barricades, in an apparent act of terrorism. The attack resulted in 15 fatalities and left 35 people injured. The driver of the truck was killed, and two police officers were wounded by gunfire during the incident but are in stable condition.
Law enforcement officials have temporarily closed parts of Bourbon Street from Canal Street to St. Ann. The FBI confirmed that it is treating the event as a terrorist act. Local officials, including the New Orleans Police Superintendent, have urged residents and visitors to avoid the affected area but assured the public that safety measures are being enhanced for other parts of the city, including the Superdome.
Georgia’s president expressed deep concern after learning that one of the injured victims was a University of Georgia student, who remains in critical condition. The university offered support to the student’s family and gratitude to first responders and medical personnel who quickly aided victims of the attack.
Meanwhile, officials in other cities hosting major college football events have ramped up security in response to the incident. The Atlanta Police Department has increased its security measures ahead of the Peach Bowl between Texas and Arizona State, deploying additional officers and specialized units to downtown and midtown areas. In Pasadena, authorities have heightened security to the maximum level for the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl game.
The tragic events have cast a shadow over the Sugar Bowl and other New Year’s college football celebrations, prompting heightened vigilance and collaboration among local and federal authorities to ensure the safety of attendees and participants.