The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which had been postponed due to a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, will now take place today.
The attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans left at least 14 people dead and dozens injured. Police say a driver intentionally sped into a crowd, and officers shot and killed the suspect on the spot. Officials believe the attacker was inspired by ISIS.
On “CBS Mornings,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick expressed confidence that the city would be able to host the game safely despite the tragedy.
“We believe we can keep this community safe. We’ve proven it time and again,” she said. “Although this is a tragic event, and many people are grieving, we know and have demonstrated that we can handle a large-scale event like today while still creating a safe environment… I believe the game should go on today.”
Originally scheduled for 7:45 p.m. CST on Wednesday, the game will now begin at 3 p.m. CST on Thursday.
Here’s more information about the Sugar Bowl.
Who’s playing in the Sugar Bowl?
The highly anticipated College Football Playoff quarterfinal pits the Georgia Bulldogs against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Why the Sugar Bowl was postponed
The game was initially postponed for 24 hours after the attack, with officials focusing on increased security measures. However, following requests from Notre Dame, Georgia, and the College Football Playoff, officials in New Orleans agreed to move the kickoff earlier in the day.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as we work through this,” said Jeff Hundley, the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s CEO. “We have complete faith and confidence in the governor, mayor, and all federal, state, and local first responders who have responded to this horrific event.
Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety comes first, and all parties involved agree that a postponement is the only way to achieve that.”
Where to watch the Sugar Bowl
ESPN will broadcast the game live from the iconic Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.