Sugar Bowl postponed in aftermath of Bourbon Street terrorist attack

The Allstate Sugar Bowl is being postponed “24 hours” and will kick off at 8:45 pm ET Thursday following the devastating terroist attack that killed 10 and injured as many as 30 on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley announced.

While the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game between Georgia and Notre Dame was supposed to take place on Wednesday evening inside the Caesars Superdome, that all changed when a vehicle drove into a crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street in the early hours of the morning.

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Ostensibly, the uncertainty surrounding the situation led to the game between the Bulldogs and the Fighting Irish being delayed. The winner will advance to the Semifinals of the CFP. Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick had said officers would work to ensure safety at the Sugar Bowl in light of the devastating event, per ESPN.

“We were scheduled this evening to have a CFP quarterfinal played in the Superdome at 7:45,” Hundley said, via a joint press conference with New Orleans officials on Wednesday afternoon. “We have been in consultation with ESPN, with the College Football Playoff, with the Southeastern Conference, with the University of Georgia, with Notre Dame, and all parties agree it’s in the best interests of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for for 24 hours.

“Work is fast about to set up a safe and efficient and fun environment for tomorrow night. There will be more details on that in the coming hours, but for now that’s the plan. We’re going to move forward and play the game.”

Moreover, the Caesars Superdome was reportedly swept by authorities in the time following the incident, as a search for explosives devices was conducted due to an abundances of caution. Notre Dame and Georgia were both sheltering-in-place inside their respective hotels during much of the afternoon on Wednesday, as well.

ESPN relayed the information that the male driver responsible was shot and killed by police when he got out of his truck, according to what law enforcement officials told ABC News. The perpetrator was also in possession of an assault rifle and had allegedly been firing a gun while he was driving through the crowd, the officials added.

“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick said, via ESPN. “It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could.”

Furthermore, President Biden has been briefed on the matter and has been in touch with Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer support, according to the White House via ABC News. The heartless incident has left New Orleans and the world shaken to start New Year’s Day, and thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this senseless crime in Louisiana.

More on the Allstate Sugar Bowl, College Football Playoff

Georgia defeated the Texas Longhorns to capture the SEC title, which led to them receiving a bye during the First Round of the CFP. As for the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame welcomed Indiana to South Bend, where they took care of business to advance to the Sugar Bowl, setting up a massive showdown between two of college football’s biggest brands.

The Caesars Superdome should be rocking, whenever the game is played, as Georgia and Notre Dame fans certainly made the trip to New Orleans for the showdown. Whichever team gets the victory will have a date with the Penn State Nittany Lions next on the docket, as they defeated the Boise State Broncos on New Year’s Eve to clinch their spot in the Semifinals already.