• Loading stock data...
Friday, April 4, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

Sugar Bowl to Proceed Despite Louisiana AG’s Desire for Delay

Despite calls from Louisiana’s attorney general to delay it further, the Sugar Bowl will be played Thursday, and its full slate of pregame events will begin at noon ET.

Jan 1, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fans line at the front desk of the Sheraton hotel after the Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed after an attack on Bourbon Street.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Sugar Bowl was postponed a full day following a deadly attack in the early hours of New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the Sugar Bowl announced a new schedule of pregame festivities beginning at noon, leading up to kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday—despite vocalized concerns from Louisiana’s attorney general.

The game, featuring a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia, was originally slated for 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day in the Caesars Superdome, but it was postponed after a white Ford pickup truck rammed through Bourbon Street early Wednesday, a popular tourist destination filled with partygoers celebrating the new year, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens.

On Wednesday night, Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill told NBC that she would’ve preferred the Sugar Bowl be delayed at least another day. “You know, it’s not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least another day,” she said. “If they asked my opinion, I would tell them that I think it was a wise decision to delay it at least a day.” But in its press release, the Sugar Bowl said that the game-time decision had been made in conjunction with federal, state, and local officials, as well as college football administrators. 

Front Office Sports has reached out to the attorney general’s office for clarification.

Sugar Bowl officials said in a press release Wednesday night that safety resources normally available for the game were preoccupied with the fallout from the attack, and that the postponement would “maintain the typical standards of a major event in the Caesars Superdome.”

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terror, and said in a statement that it found the flag of ISIS, as well as several explosives. The driver, identified as 42-year-old U.S. citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. Local officials also said that explosives had been placed throughout the French Quarter and that detonation specialists spent the day Wednesday sweeping the area—another potential reason for the game’s postponement.

Despite Murrill’s concerns, however, the game is on. 

On Wednesday night, photos and videos on social media showed the Georgia team leaving its hotel, boarding buses to a closed walk-through practice.

ESPN adjusted its schedule to accommodate the new kickoff time, by moving the entire game megacast to Thursday afternoon. As part of the shuffle, the Gator Bowl between Duke and Ole Miss, taking place in Jacksonville, will be postponed 30 minutes from 7:30 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to accommodate the Sugar Bowl.

ESPN announced its full team will be available for the game, and a spokesperson told Front Office Sports on Wednesday that all talent and crew members were safe and accounted for following the attack. 

It’s still somewhat unclear what game day will look like on the ground, however.

Because of the postponement, fans would have had to stay at least one more night, purchasing extra hotel rooms and moving flight reservations. On social media, reports emerged Thursday morning of fans clad in both Georgia and Notre Dame gear at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, presumably choosing to skip the game altogether.

The Sugar Bowl made a thread on X/Twitter on Wednesday night with updates for game day, appearing to suggest all pregame festivities, like the “Tailgate Town” event outside the Superdome, would take place in addition to the matchup. 

The Sugar Bowl has not made announcements for specific enhanced security for game time, but CEO Jeff Hundley said Wednesday: “We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first responders. … Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years.”

During a news conference Wednesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry assured fans that the Sugar Bowl would be safe to attend—saying he knew because he would be there. “The facility is safer today than it was yesterday,” he told reporters.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Potawatomi Sportsbook patrons watch the University of Wisconsin men play UCLA on Friday, March 14, 2025. The venue is open for the first time during March Madness and is expecting to be busy over the next few weeks in Milwaukee.

All Signs Point to Trump Admin OK’ing Kalshi’s Sports Contracts

The federal government appears ready to approve Kalshi’s sports event contracts.
Flau'Jae Johnson

Flau’jae Johnson Picks LSU Over WNBA Draft

The LSU star and rapper will stay another year in school.
Dawn Staley

Women’s March Madness Has a Portal Problem. Can GMs Solve It?

Final Four coaches are calling agents and players between practices.

Featured Today

Dec 27, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) skates during warm ups before their game against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center at San Jose

Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks Rookies Have Brought Good Vibes to a..

The rookie’s arrival has boosted spirits incongruously high inside the flagging franchise.
Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
April 1, 2025

The Creator Behind the LeBron ‘Glazing’ Trend Sweeping TikTok

FOS spoke to TikTok user OkaySpade who made the original song.
Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys manager Amir Khan before a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion
April 1, 2025

Inside the 24-Hour NIL March Madness Deals

Some of the most viral partnerships come together overnight.
Seattle Kraken
April 1, 2025

Samantha Holloway Is Seattle’s NHL Present—and Hopeful NBA Future

Samantha Holloway is steering the Kraken and hoping to revive pro hoops.
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close looks on against the LSU Lady Tigers during the first half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena.

UCLA’s Rise to the Final Four: Cori Close’s Blueprint for a New..

The UCLA women’s team is in the Final Four for the first time in the NCAA era.
Mar 30, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson reacts after cutting the net for the Midwest Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
April 3, 2025

‘Overlooked’ Big 12 Has Quietly Succeeded During Men’s March Madness

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark says the conference has won big, too.
Mar 31, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) makes a heart symbol to the crowd after a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the USC Trojans at Spokane Arena.
April 3, 2025

Women’s Hoops Keeps Climbing: Clark’s Boom to Bueckers’s Moment

This year’s tournament has averaged 967,000 viewers.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets players pose for a photo after the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.
April 3, 2025

Sacramento State Applies for Waiver to Transition to FBS

The Hornets would need the NCAA to approve a waiver to switch to FBS.
April 2, 2025

In the NIL Era, College Basketball’s Biggest Programs Keep Winning

Only Power 4 teams qualified for the men’s Sweet 16.
April 2, 2025

SEC, Big Ten Secure $3M Payouts From Women’s March Madness

Each unit is estimated to be about $113,636.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles (5) celebrates a three-pointer as TCU Horned Frogs face off with Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sweet 16 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
April 1, 2025

Olivia Miles Delays WNBA Dreams: Why She Chose the Transfer Portal

Miles was the projected No. 2 overall pick.