The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will feature No. 3 Texas and No. 12 Arizona State and will take place under heightened security measures in Atlanta following the New Years Eve attack in New Orleans that left at least 10 people dead and over 35 injured. The game is set for Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where capacity crowds have previously exceeded 79,000 attendees.
Less than three hours before kickoff, the Atlanta Police Department issued a statement addressing concerns about safety following the New Orleans attack. The department confirmed that additional security measures had already been planned for the Peach Bowl but that further precautions would be implemented following the incident.
“We acknowledge the concerns raised following the events earlier this morning in New Orleans, LA,” the statement read. “In advance of the Peach Bowl, the Atlanta Police Department had already implemented increased security measures, including the deployment of additional officers. In light of today’s development and as an added precaution, specialized units and additional personnel will be further deployed to the Downtown and Midtown areas to ensure the continued safety and security of residents and visitors. Our thoughts and prayers are with the City of New Orleans and the NOPD.”
The upgraded security directly responds to an attack that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day in the New Orleans French Quarter. While ticket sales for the Peach Bowl have yet to be confirmed, the game is expected to draw a massive crowd and has averaged an attendance of 68,348 fans since 2000.
A driver purposely drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. during New Year celebrations. After the vehicular assault, the suspect exited the truck, opened fire, and engaged in a full-on shootout with law enforcement. The attack resulted in 10 fatalities and left more than 35 people injured.
Two police officers were injured in the confrontation but are reportedly in stable condition. The suspect was killed during the exchange with law enforcement. New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the incident as calculated, stating the suspect was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
The Sugar Bowl is scheduled for the same day and will proceed as planned at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game features a matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame and is set for 8:45 p.m. ET. Commissioner Kirkpatrick highlighted the importance of continuing the event despite the ongoing investigation into the attack.
“We want our community and our visitors to continuing enjoying [the city.] There is so much to enjoy about New Orleans.” Kirkpatrick said. “We’re going to make sure that our routes and the Superdome are safe today for the game. We’re sorry to everyone in our community for this tragic event, but we do want you to go about the day. Just stay away from Bourbon.”
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