A flood of government officials have been in New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl, ensuring the city will be locked down for President Donald Trump, former first lady Jill Biden and music super star Taylor Swift, all of whom will be in the stands.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have coordinated one of the largest security efforts in Super Bowl history, locking down the most popular parts of the city as part of their efforts.
Drones, armed guards, rooftop snipers and police dogs make up just part of the security package. There also will be a giant X-ray machine at the Superdome for vehicles to drive through in order to be scanned for explosives.
‘The biggest show on earth is going to go off without a hitch,’ Gov. Jeff Landry said at a briefing.
Members of Louisiana National Guard provide enhanced security at the entrance to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter during activities for the Super Bowl
U.S. Coast Guard security team with their K-9 on the banks of Mississippi River in New Orleans
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi were in New Orleans ahead of the game to make personal inspections of security measures.
Alabama Rep. Dale Strong, the chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, led a congressional delegation on a security tour.
‘To be honest with you, this is very similar to what we had in Washington, DC, just a matter of 10 days or two weeks ago,’ Dale said, referring to the inauguration.
He particularly noted the number of police canines on duty – ‘every dog you could imagine,’ he said.
Noem said there are ‘no specific credible threats’ to the game.
In addition to the president, the Super Bowl is expected to draw several A-list celebrities, including Timothée Chalamet, Paul Rudd (a Chiefs fan), Bradley Cooper (an Eagles fan), and Jason Sudeikis ( a Chiefs fan).
Speaker Mike Johnson said he’ll join Trump in the president’s box for the game. Kendrick Lamar is performing at the halftime show.
Security was already going to be tight following the New Year’s Eve attack on Bourbon Street but the president’s decision to attend has ramped things up even further.
There were two assassination attempts on Trump last year and, when his presidential inauguration was moved indoors in January, there was speculation those attempts were the reason.
Taylor Swift celebrates with Travis Kelce after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills to make it to the Superbowl
Mobile Vehicle Access Control Inspection System scans vehicles for explosives
Caesars Superdome, the site of Superbowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles
Louisiana National Guard specialist Janyria Cutno stands guard at a post at a security barrier on Bienville Street near Bourbon Street in the French Quarter
New Orleans has hosted 10 Super Bowls in previous years but this year will be different.
Security measures will include aerial drones surveillance around the Superdome, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and Bourbon Street.
Thousands of local police and national guard troops will be in the streets.
The Coast Guard will be on the Mississippi River. Armed federal air marshals will be stationed around the city’s transportation hubs. Armored tactical vehicles known as BearCats will also be deployed, with as many as 16 being used to block street access to vehicles.
More than 100 bomb-sniffing dogs will be on duty.
The FBI and Secret Service are bringing in rooftop snipers and will position armored SWAT vehicles around the stadium and the French Quarter. Roadblocks will be in place throughout the city.
There is a ban on drones around the Superdome and downtown New Orleans and flight restrictions up to 18,000 feet, per the Federal Aviation Administration.
President Donald Trump heads to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Friday, from where he’ll travel to the Super Bowl
A member of the Louisiana National Guard patrols outside of a blocked off section of Bourbon Street as a part of security measures for Super Bowl LIX
More than 125,000 visitors are expected to be in the city to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in Super Bowl LIX.
The Department of Homeland Security ranks the Super Bowl as a level one national event, meaning it gets significant federal support for security.
And, for the first time, the DHS also ranked Mardi Gras on March 4 as a level one event, meaning security measures will continue until then.
No vehicle traffic will be allowed on Bourbon Street after a truck-ramming attack that killed 14 people and injured dozens more on New Year’s Eve.
The street is the most popular in the city, lined with bars and venues. And Mardi Gras is one of New Orleans’ biggest events, a time for people to go wild before Ash Wednesday, a major Catholic holiday.
Bourbon Street is also the subject of an ‘enhanced security zone.’
Gov. Landry created the zone using an emergency order, which also allows law enforcement officers to search the bags of people entering the area and deny entry to anyone who refuses.
Additionally, in the French Quarter, ice chests and backpack coolers are forbidden. But state law still permits people to carry concealed guns into the zone.
Because of the vehicle attack on New Year’s. the perimeter of the Superdome will have blast barriers and require vehicles to go through giant X-ray machines typically seen at border crossings.
US Customs and Border Protection will use the high-tech vehicle X-ray machine known as the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System to screen for hidden weapons, explosives, and contraband.
‘The safest place to be this weekend will be under the security umbrella this team has put together,’ vowed Cathy Lanier, the NFL chief security officer, at a briefing.