The 2025 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans was postponed just hours before kickoff Wednesday after at least 10 people were killed and dozens injured in what federal officials are investigating as an act of terrorism.
Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley spoke at a news conference with local, state and federal officials Wednesday afternoon to confirm that the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed for 24 hours.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl logo at midfield during the Allstate Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal game between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies on January 1, 2024, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (John Corduner/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“We wish we weren’t here for this reason today. The Sugar Bowl Committee has a 90-year history of being good citizens for the city of New Orleans, which is why this tragedy hurts us as much as it hurts everyone else right now. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go to “The victims and their families while we all work to solve this problem.”
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“All parties agree that it is in everyone’s interest in public safety for us to postpone the match for 24 hours.
“There will be more details on that in the coming hours, but for now, this is the plan that we will go ahead and play the game (tomorrow).”
The postponement comes after reports that the Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, was initially closed for security sweeps, and people with offices inside the stadium were told not to come to the site until further notice.
An exterior general aerial view of Caesars Superdome, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
That directive included officials in the Sugar Bowl and Sun Belt conference, a source told The Associated Press.
According to an FBI statement, a man driving a Ford pickup truck plowed into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 local time. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shams al-Din Jabbar, exchanged gunfire with local law enforcement authorities before he was pronounced dead at the scene.
At least 10 people were killed and 35 others were injured as a result of the apparent terrorist attack.
The FBI is also working to determine the subject’s “possible ties and affiliations with terrorist organizations,” after an ISIS flag was found in the truck. Weapons and a possible explosive device were found inside the suspect’s vehicle and other possible explosive devices were found in the French Quarter.
The tragedy in New Orleans comes as thousands of fans traveled to the historic city ahead of the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work the scene on Bourbon Street after at least ten people were killed when someone drove into the crowd in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day on January 1, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Michael Democker/Getty Images)
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The Superdome is located just a mile from the site of Wednesday morning’s deadly attack.
Georgia and Notre Dame arrived in New Orleans on Sunday, reportedly staying at hotels located just blocks from the crime scene. According to reports, both schools provided “shelter” for the teams.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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