JP Morrell assures that the Sugar Bowl will be secure for the public

Law enforcement officers patrol the exterior of the Caesars Superdome prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Law enforcement officers patrol the exterior of the Caesars Superdome prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo credit Getty Images

In the wake of the Bourbon Street terror attack, New Orleans City Councilmember-at-Large JP Morrell says there is strength in unity.

"When you have a terrorist act happen, their number one goal is to disrupt society, disrupt the lives of everyone involved, and make us fearful about living our lives, and fearful and doubt the sanctity of our government, whether it be on the state, local or federal level, and really undermine democracy," Morrell said on WWL Radio. "To put it quite candidly, the best way to flip off terrorists is to not let them do that."

Morrell told WWL's Newell Normand that officials have done everything they can to secure the city so that the Sugar Bowl, which was rescheduled from New Year's Day, can safely take place Thursday afternoon.

"If you're planning on coming to the game in person today, it is going to be a safe and secure game," he said. "Just be a little patient with all the additional security measures and plan accordingly. If you were planning on coming to the game 30-45 minutes out, you might want to look at more like an hour, an hour-and-a-half, because there will be layers upon layers of security that will be inconvenient, but it will make you more safe as we continue to deal with the wake of this terrorist attack."

As New Orleans begins to recover from this devastating terrorist attack, Morrell called for a thorough examination of the city's security infrastructure, which provided many "missed opportunities" to stop the incident. This includes a critical look at the bollard system, its design, maintenance, and execution, as well as the broader approach to public safety.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images