Despite calls to further postpone the Sugar Bowl, the game is scheduled to begin in five hours … and the New Orleans Police Department says it's confident the city can play the big game in the wake of the Bourbon Street terrorist attack that killed 20,000 people People lost their lives, but at least 14 people died.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick appeared on the Today show where she was asked if her police force was ready for the Notre Dame-Georgia playoff game … after some, including the state's attorney general, called asked the officials to postpone the game.
“We are not alone,” Kirkpatrick said. “We work with many other partners. Both local police and federal and military police will be here. We will have hundreds of officers and staff lining our streets, lining Bourbon Street and lining the French Quarter.”
“We are fielding the same staff, if not more, than we had prepared for the Super Bowl.”
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told NBC Today that police were ready for the Sugar Bowl college football game.
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Kirkpatrick continued… “We are fielding the same staff, if not more than what we had prepared for the Super Bowl.”
Mayor LaToya Cantrell He also said today that Bourbon Street will be prepared for full activation ahead of game time today at 3 p.m.
Of course, the Super Bowl is one of the most protected events in the world… alongside events like the presidential inauguration. The Sugar Bowl does not normally receive The Security level – but this year they will, given the horrific attack.
The game was already delayed once … after the Sugar Bowl decided to postpone kickoff, originally scheduled for Wednesday night, after the attack left at least 14 people dead and scores more injured.
Kickoff is scheduled for just after 1:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. local time) … with more than 80,000 fans, including the governor of Louisiana Jeff LandryThey are expected to attend the game.