Super Bowl Security Surge

Super Bowl Security Tightens Down After New Orleans Terrorist Attack

Photo by Fred Moon on Unsplash

With one of the most watched and attended athletic events set to kick off in two weeks, security has reached an all-time high in the host city. Not only will millions of fans tune into the Super Bowl on their TV, but over 70,000 people will attend the game, creating a massive weekend for New Orleans’ economy, tourist sector and police department. While the Super Bowl puts the host city’s safety departments on high alert, this year’s game in New Orleans has caused local and federal departments in code red.

The root cause of New Orlean’s extra safety precautions stems from the terrorist events that occurred in the city on New Year’s Eve. As thousands were celebrating the beginning of the new year on New Orleans Bourbon Street, terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowed down the street in his truck, killing 14 people and injuring more than 35. This attack moved the college football Sugar Bowl back a day and put the city’s police department in a state of hypervigilance.

With the safety of fans, players and staff being the city’s number one priority, the city of New Orleans has called upon backup. With help from the National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, New Orleans is ensuring the safety for everyone. The Department of Homeland Security has created a security zone in the French Quarter from Feb. 5–10 in addition to the enhanced security zone surrounding the Super Bowl’s host stadium Caesars Superdome.

“The [city] really tightened down on the security after the attack earlier this year,” senior Ryder Marks said. “They will be extra cautious with all the fans that will be there and all the attention the [Super Bowl] brings to the city of New Orleans.”

The National Guard and Department of Homeland Security add on to the multiple tactical teams, undercover officers and hundreds of other police officers present. Fencing, tents, additional surveillance cameras and new steel wedges positioned at key entry points off Bourbon Street have also been added to the city since the terrorist attack.

“I think it’s smart they are prepared for an event like the Super Bowl that will have that type of attention,” senior John Fletcher Butler said.

The Super Bowl will kick off on Sunday, Feb. 9, but fans and tourists will flock to the city days before. With all the security measures the federal and state government has created, the main priority is safety.