NEW ORLEANS — The Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinal on the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed a day due to an assault a few mile away from the Superdome early Wednesday, when a truck plowed right into a New 12 months’s crowd and killed 10 folks.
The sport, initially scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Pacific on the 70,000-seat Superdome, has been pushed again to Thursday night time, Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley stated.
“Public safety is paramount,” Hundley stated at a media briefing alongside federal, state and native officers, together with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “All parties all agree that it’s in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours.”
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter stated the choice to postpone the sport “was not done lightly.”
“It was done with one single thing in mind: public safety — making sure that the citizens and visitors of this great city, not only for this event, but for every event you come to in Louisiana, that you will be safe,” Carter added. “And we will use every resource possible.”
Landry stated he had a message for these considering, “Man, do I really want to go to the Sugar Bowl tomorrow?”
“I tell you one thing: Your governor’s going to be there,” Landry stated. “That is proof, believe you me, that that facility and this city is safer today than it was yesterday.”
Hundley stated work was underway to “set up a safe and efficient and fun environment” at and across the Superdome on Thursday night time. “We live in the fun-and-games world with what we do, but we certainly recognize the importance of this and support (public safety efforts) 100%.”
The Superdome was on lockdown for safety sweeps on Wednesday morning, when folks with workplaces within the Superdome — together with officers with the Sugar Bowl and Solar Belt Convention — have been informed to not come into work till additional discover.
Some credentialed Superdome staff have been permitted into workplaces by Wednesday afternoon.
The casualties occurred when a driver rammed a pickup truck right into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New 12 months’s Day, injuring greater than 30 folks. The driving force was killed in a firefight with police following the assault at about 3:15 a.m. alongside Bourbon Avenue close to Canal Avenue, the FBI stated.
The Georgia and Notre Dame soccer groups arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and have been staying at downtown resorts simply blocks away from the place the violence occurred.
Statements from the College of Georgia Athletic Affiliation and from Notre Dame stated each faculties had accounted for all crew personnel and members of official journey events.
“To be in solidarity with those who suffer is to exemplify the spirit of Notre Dame,” stated college president the Rev. Robert A. Dowd. “Today, we are in solidarity with all those impacted by this tragedy.”
A press release from Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks supplied prayers for “everyone involved in this horrific event, and we are here to support them in any way possible.”
Georgia president Jere Morehead stated the college confirmed {that a} pupil was amongst these critically injured. Morehead stated the college is involved with the coed’s household to supply assist.
New Orleans Metropolis Council President Helena Moreno informed WDSU-TV earlier Wednesday, earlier than the postponement was introduced, that the safety perimeter across the Superdome was being “extended to be a larger zone.”
“So expect obviously extra security,” she stated. “There are more police officers who are coming in.”
The Superdome, which is about 20 blocks away, is also scheduled to host the Tremendous Bowl on Feb. 9.
The primary Tremendous Bowl after the terrorist assaults of Sept. 11, 2001, additionally was held in New Orleans, and there was a large safety perimeter for that sport together with road closures surrounding the Superdome and officers — together with snipers — on the tops of surrounding high-rise buildings, in addition to on the roof of the dome itself.
“These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events,” the assertion continued. “We are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience.”
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AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi in Clearwater, Florida, and AP Sports activities Author Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.