This year’s Super Bowl celebrations have ended in Indianapolis. But planning is already under way in New Orleans for next year’s game.
Super Bowl 2013 is being held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but city officials want residents involved throughout the New Orleans metro area. Mark Romig of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation was among city officials who traveled to Indianapolis to see how it managed the big event. New Orleans has hosted 9 previous Super Bowls, the last one in 2002.
“The Super Bowl footprint has become much larger and much more extensive as it relates to not only what the NFL expects for us to do to host the teams and sponsors, but the fan experience has increased tremendously.”
Romig says the Dome can handle 73,000 people. The city has plenty of venues for private parties – many of which are held days before the game itself. He says hotels in surrounding communities will be putting up visitors. He says Indianapolis only had 6,000 hotel rooms within its downtown area.
“Throughout the entire greater New Orleans area we have close to 38,000 hotel rooms so we believe we’ll be in good shape. Plus any overflow will find its way over to the Gulf Coast, which will be good for Mississippi or west of the city toward Baton Rouge and Lafayette, which will be good for those areas as well.”
Romig says the 2013 game could generate a half-billion dollars for the local economy. He says volunteers are needed to help visitors enjoy the city, as they did in Indianapolis – greeting people and helping with directions. More information on plans and signing up to help is available on Nolasuperbowl.com.
