Fewer fans appeared to attend the postponed Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia on Thursday in light of the terror attack in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Notre Dame and Georgia kicked off on Thursday afternoon after being delayed from Wednesday night following the terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more.
Amid the lives lost, fears of safety and feeling of tragedy in New Orleans and the Caesars Superdome, a moment of silence was observed in the stadium before the game began at 3 p.m. local time.
Many viewers criticized ESPN for not showing the moment of silence on its TV broadcast, but video was made available on social media.
The circumstances surrounding the Sugar Bowl and perhaps a sense of community that developed among those in attendance in the face of tragedy added enthusiasm and vigor, in addition to a chant of “U-S-A!” to the performance of the national anthem by New Orleans native Samyra prior to kickoff.
The anthem also was not shown on the TV broadcast.
Several observers noticed and TV cameras showed that the Superdome also had many empty seats as the game began.
Good and loud crowd at the Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame. But there are scattered patches of empty seats in the upper levels. The postponement and circumstances surrounding it were bound to affect attendance pic.twitter.com/evb4aXUR3N
— Brett Martel (@brettmartel) January 2, 2025
Some of that may have been due to a late-arriving crowd that had to go through additional security measures while entering the stadium. Many fans and media likely could not attend after the game was moved from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon.
We are also leaving. the travel logistics were too difficult and costly, we have obligations today at home, and most of all we just didn’t feel like going anymore. I would feel bummed but honestly we just feel very lucky. https://t.co/DcDMykV0m4
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) January 2, 2025
Seeing a lot of ND and Georgia fans at the airport in New Orleans leaving town this morning
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) January 2, 2025
And many simply may not have felt like attending a football game — or felt safe — in light of a terror attack in which several people were hurt and killed.
Nonetheless, the atmosphere in the Superdome during the Sugar Bowl brought a somber mood followed by emotion and inspiration for an anticipated College Football Playoff matchup. However, with real-world events taking precedence, the game felt less significant to many.
