There will be increased security for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans as the NFL and federal law enforcement respond to the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street.
The attack featured a man driving a truck through crowds, resulting in the death of 14 people. As a result, authorities have beefed up security by adding more manpower and resources to ensure one of the biggest sporting events on the planet goes off without issue.
“We’ve increased our security posture significantly so that people can come here, they can see a strong law enforcement presence,” said Eric DeLaune, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans who is leading federal coordination for Super Bowl LIX.
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Super Bowl LIX is expected to attract over 125,000 people to New Orleans for February 9. Given it comes just five weeks after the attack which saw the Sugar Bowl postponed, it’s no surprise that there will be some changes when it comes to how the event is planned from a security stand point.
“I’d like to say it doesn’t change a lot in our security planning, but it does change things,” the NFL’s Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier told ESPN. “Are we doing anything differently? Of course.”
How security will be different for the Super Bowl
DeLaune and Lanier are both in New Orleans this week to continue preparations for the event.
The increased security presence will mean that SWAT team members, armoured vehicles, special agents on rooftops, government surveillance drones and extra security cameras around the city will all be visible as per DeLaune.
There will also be more than 90 bomb-sniffing dogs deployed by the Transportation Safety Administration, while the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protections will monitor the Mississippi River.
“My goal was that you couldn’t walk a city block in downtown New Orleans without at least encountering one law enforcement official,” DeLaune said.
“I’m not trying to make people afraid. I want people to see that we’re prepared.”
DeLaune added that in response to the Sugar Bowl attack, which was carried out by a lone wolf, law enforcement has also added intelligence analysts to watch for any potential threats.
While no specific figures were shared on how many extra people would be on the ground for the Super Bowl, DeLaune did state that “hundreds” of federal officers will be in the city to support local and state law enforcement starting now until the big day.
“You’ll see plenty of uniformed people but there are going to be lots of plainclothes people in the crowds too,” DeLaune said. “We want people to know that.”
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