by Mark Chesnut
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Sun February 2, 2025
New Orleans has faced multiple challenges
over the past several weeks, but tourism officials say that all systems are go
for what they predict will be two very successful large-scale events: Super Bowl LIX, which will take place Feb. 9
at Caesars Superdome, and Mardi Gras season, which is
already underway and comes to a head March 4.?
Following the Jan. 1 truck attack and the freak snowstorm that delivered
multiple inches of snow, the city has taken a proactive stance to prepare for
upcoming events, according to Mark Romig, senior advisor for New Orleans & Company, the citys tourism
organization.?
Weve got all the
efforts underway to protect ourselves, he said. The focus that is occurring in New Orleans right now gives me, as a
citizen, comfort.
To ensure that upcoming events are both successful and safe, the city is
taking significant steps. For one, to keep both travelers and travel advisors
up to date, New Orleans & Company has posted a comprehensive visitor safety statement that
includes common-sense travel tips as well as information about strengthened
security initiatives including expert assessments, strengthened partnerships
with the New Orleans Police Department and Louisiana State Police and
additional federal resources.?
Notably, the city has secured a Special Event Assessment Rating of 1 (referred
to as SEAR 1) for the dates around Super Bowl and Mardi Gras; this is the
highest priority level of federal coordination, guaranteeing top-tier security,
personnel and resources for these major events.
Krewe of Iris Parade. (Photo Credit: DepartureLevel.com)
In addition, visitors arriving in New Orleans in the
coming weeks are likely to find some impressive improvements to the citys
infrastructure, according to Romig, thanks to more than 400 projects aimed at
improving the streets for residents and visitors alike.?
Were into those
final days of getting everything buttoned up, rolling out the reddest of red
carpets, he said. Those who
havent been to New Orleans within the last year will notice so many changes
upgraded streetscapes, sidewalks, lighting. It's going to be something that not
only is good for the Super Bowl; its also going
to last us for a decade. Were very
excited about that.
Super Bowl Activities
While the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is
obviously the main event for sports lovers in the Big Easy in February, the
days before Super Bowl are filled with interesting affiliated events, and
individual tickets are available for each of them.?
These events include Super Bowl Opening Night, which will take
place Feb. 3 at Caesars Superdome and include family-friendly activities; Super Bowl Experience, an
immersive football festival at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center slated
for Feb. 5-8; Super Bowl Soulful Celebration, which will
bring R&B, gospel and country musicians to the stage of the Mahalia Jackson
Theater on Feb. 5; and Louisiana Culture Festival, which will take
place at the French Market from Feb.7-8.?
Also scheduled for Feb. 8 is a Mardi Gras-style parade thats billed as
the first-ever Super Bowl Host Committee Parade; the event will
take place from 10 a.m. to noon, with Super Bowl-themed floats taking to the
streets of the French Quarter.?
Mardi Gras Activities
Mardi Gras season is underway, and festivities kick into high gear in
the coming weeks. The largest number of parades and events will take place
between Feb. 15 and March 4, which is officially Fat Tuesday also known as Mardi
Gras.?
Romig from New Orleans & Company says that visitors
to the city tend to stay about three or four nights when attending large events
but with Mardi Gras, some people
will actually come in and then spend a spend a week here, because they're just
really parade fanatics, and they want to get as much in as possible.
Several hundreds of thousands of people will come in and out of the city
in those two weeks around Mardi Gras, he says.
Krewe of Bacchus Parade. (Photo Credit: DepartureLevel.com)
Considering the number of visitors expected for the Super Bowl and Mardi
Gras, its no surprise that planning ahead is crucial. Romig
recommends travel advisors and travelers use his organizations website, NewOrleans.com, as a
resource. Its a great trip-planning guide for finding everything from restaurants and attractions to buying tickets
to those attractions, he notes.
Is it too late to book a trip for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras? Not
necessarily, according to Romig, although rooms and flights are filling up.?
I've gone
online just to test it out, and you can buy a room, he said. There are rooms available. I'm reminded of the Taylor Swift phenomenon
that we had here back in October.?
Regardless of the festivity, Romig says the Big Easys unique,
welcoming vibe shines through.?
No other city
can do it like New Orleans does it, he said. When we throw a parade, all the neighborhoods come together, and it's a
beautiful thing.
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