Country music superstar Garth Brooks will headline the inaugural Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on September 2 to kick off the 2023 football season.
Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says tickets include a full day of activities including the NewOrleans.com Tailgate Town in Champions Square.
“Right now we’re approaching 60 thousand tickets sold," Hundley said. "So it will be a good representative crowd. Actually, it's the second largest concert crowd ever in the Superdome outside the Rolling Stones.”
Opening acts for the event include Louisiana native Lainey Wilson and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Festivities for the Sugar Bowl Country kickoff will begin with a free event at Champions Square. There will be musical performances, football-themed activations, special college football amateur sports spotlights, and other games and activities throughout the day. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite school colors.
Hundley says the event is bringing in a lot of out-of-state visitors.
“At last check, over 60% of fans coming to the concert are from outside the state," Hundley said.
Hundley says revenue from this concert event will help keep New Orleans involved as a host site for games when the college football playoff expands starting next year.
“Our ability to fill the stadium and to provide revenue to the conferences and teams participating in the playoff are going to be what actually cements our spot," Hundley said. "Should be a good night. Hope people will come out and check it out.”
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster. Proceeds from the event will also go toward the aid of existing scholarship programs and youth events the Bowl supports annually.
