Super Sized
How do those of us who live and work in NOLA benefit from the infrastructure, investments, and initiatives created primarily to accommodate visitors?
New Orleans has been hosting Super Bowls since the 1970s, and with Super Bowl LIX, the city will be tied with Miami for hosting the most at 11.
Our level of expertise in organizing massive, unforgettable events each year, from Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest, is woven into the city's fabric, making it uniquely suited for hosting a global spectacle, including the Super Bowl. This is why the Super Bowl Host Committee's theme "It's What We Do," led by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the New Orleans Saints, is so fitting.
But unlike Mardi Gras, which mostly leaves behind cherished memories and street debris, the Super Bowl has a more positive lasting impact. Preparations for the event begin years in advance, resulting in long-term benefits for the city. Unlike our annual festivals or a month of parades, the Super Bowl leaves behind more substantial "leftovers" in the form of improvements and investments that residents can enjoy for years to come.
According to President and CEO of the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee Jay Cicero, here are some of the many ways that the Super Bowl will benefit locals long after the final whistle:
Verizon has installed new hardware over the last three years that will increase connectivity and service across the city, a benefit that will remain for locals for years to come.
GNO, Inc. has contracted with local artists to paint murals in key locations across the city to beautify unused spaces. These not only supported local artists but ensured the art will be visible for years to come.
For the first time ever, the NFL collaborated with an artist from New Orleans to design the Super Bowl game logo. Mardi Gras Indian Queen Tahj Williams used her expertise and creativity to design the Super Bowl LIX logo in collaboration with the NFL. The Black Masking Indian tribe uses methods passed down for generations, and Williams painstakingly built the Super Bowl LIX Logo bead by bead.
The Superbowl's poster artist is Charles Fazzino, who is known for his 3D pop art. This is his 25th NFL commissioned poster. While not a local artist (he lives in New York), his donation of poster sales will benefit local charities related to the Bourbon Street terrorist attack. He will appear daily at the NFL Experience at the Convention Center during the week Super Bowl to sell and sign posters.
More than 200 local businesses were selected by the NFL for the Super Bowl LIX Source Program, where underrepresented businesses in the Greater New Orleans region were invited to bid on contracts from the NFL and its partners. In preparation for this, the Host Committee hosted numerous workshops and networking opportunities focusing on marketing, cybersecurity, social media, certification, and more. These are skills our local businesses will retain long after the game and be able to pass on to other businesses in our community. Providing services to the NFL is a huge networking and resume-building opportunity for locals and paves the way for these businesses to participate in future major events that New Orleans hosts.
"Impact 59 Powered by Entergy" will leave a lasting benefit to local nonprofits for years. Nonprofits were able to apply for funding to aid them in their mission to help the people and communities throughout Greater New Orleans in areas such as education, youth engagement, workforce training, health and wellness, and equity and inclusion. Grant funding from the NFL Foundation, New Orleans Saints, Entergy, Ochsner Health, Venture Global, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, NOLA Coalition, and the Host Committee will assist these organizations for years to come, improving the lives of all locals.
The Superdome Meets the Super Bowl: An Ongoing Symbol for NOLA's Tenacity and Endurance
The Super Bowl is an opportunity to experience pride in New Orleans and some of its most unique features that we may take for granted. Having all the eyes of the world watch an event in our Superdome is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible journey the city has gone through since this structure was first constructed. Its size and strength are a symbol of the city's own fortitude, and the Super Bowl allows us a chance to celebrate this.
Born during the first great era of domed stadiums in the 1970s, it is the only one from the era that remains viable. Originally called the Louisiana Superdome, then the Mercedes Benz Superdome, it has been Caesars Superdome since 2021.
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 29, 2005, approximately 30,000 evacuees sought protection inside its walls. A year later, the Superdome reopened, a monumental symbol of New Orleans' determination to rebuild and recover. The first game back in the Dome on September 25, 2006, against the Atlanta Falcons, became a defining moment in the city's recovery narrative. It was more than just a football game—it was a city reclaiming its sense of identity and hope. When Steve Gleason blocked the Falcons' punt in the first quarter, leading to a Saints touchdown, the crowd erupted with a level of energy that reverberated far beyond the Dome. That play, etched into history as one of the most iconic moments in NFL history, embodied the spirit of New Orleans: defiant, unwavering, and united in the face of adversity.
Hosting the NFL's biggest event here is not just a celebration of the game but a continual affirmation of the city's unyielding spirit. Whether or not you are a football fan, if you are a fan of New Orleans, this is a win for all of us.
