Updated at 11:32 a.m.: Today's Sugar Bowl college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish has been postponed 24 hours until Thursday evening, Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley just announced.
The game is scheduled for tonight at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, just hours after the deadly massacre in that city earlier this morning.
Hundley, who was speaking at a news conference in New Orleans and noted that “public safety is of the utmost importance,” said Sugar Bowl officials consulted with ESPN (which will televise the game), as well as with the College Football Playoff, the Southeastern Conference , College Football Playoff, Southeastern Conference, College Football Playoff, Southeastern Conference, College Football Playoff, Southeastern Conference, College Football Playoff, Southeastern Conference, And the College Football Playoff, the Southeastern Conference, and the IOC.” With the University of Georgia, and with Notre Dame.
He continued: “All parties agree that it is in everyone’s interest and public safety to postpone the match for 24 hours.” Hundley pledged to “create a safe, efficient and enjoyable environment tomorrow night.” Details will be coming soon.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said at the conference that he will attend tomorrow night's game.
Hundley thanked various officials from the theater and local and federal agencies who also participated in the press conference, saying, “We live in a world of fun and games with what we do but we certainly recognize the importance of it and we will support it.” “That's 100 percent.”
Earlier in the day, Hundley issued a statement saying, “The Sugar Bowl Committee has been devastated by the terrible events that occurred early this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities at the local, state and federal levels and will send More details as they become available.
Earlier today, the general assumption was that the match would go ahead as planned tonight. On CNN this morning, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said he was “very confident” the game would go ahead tonight. “The standard operating procedure for a big game like the Sugar Bowl, a Saints game, or the Super Bowl is to go through the building, make sure nothing is wrong in there, and then shut it down. The Sugar Bowl and the Superdome are closed. There won't be a problem there.”
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick also confirmed this morning that, at that time, the game was expected to be played as scheduled at 8:45 p.m. ET.
The winner of the game will advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
“We are appalled and saddened by the senseless violence that occurred in the early hours of New Year's Day in New Orleans,” a statement from the University of Georgia said. “University personnel are working to determine if any UGA students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans are among the victims.”
The Georgia Sports Department later issued a lengthy statement, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts of violence that occurred in New Orleans. All team members and official travel party members have been accounted for. Currently, we are in contact with local law enforcement as well as representatives from the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff and are continuing to gather more information. Our prayers are with all who traveled here for the Sugar Bowl and the entire New Orleans community.
University of Georgia President Jerry W. Moorhead confirmed that a Georgia student, who was in town to watch the game, was seriously injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Notre Dame officials also said they are “working with law enforcement and others to determine the full scope and impact of the tragedy.” No one associated with the school team has been reported infected.
At least 10 people were killed in the horrific 3:15 a.m. attack on New Year's revelers in New Orleans' French Quarter when a man, who is being investigated as a potential terrorist, drove his car into a crowd of people. In addition to the immediate casualties, at least 35 people were injured, some of them in serious condition.
The driver of the vehicle was shot dead by police after he began shooting at officers from his truck.
