New Orleans is quickly establishing itself as the sports capitol of America. Just six years removed from Katrina and the devastating floods that ensued, New Orleans is the draw for most of the major sporting events over the nexy 12-15 months.
Tonight New Orleans is host to the best bowl game of the day the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. In large part because of the draw of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, this early season bowl game has brought a larger than usual crowd to the Superdome. The economic impact of the New Orleans Bowl continues to grow every year and this year should set a record. And it's just a good thing to see downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter full of a bunch of crazy Ragin Cajuns. And I guess we should not forget the visiting fans from San Diego St. as well!
Before we even get to the big bowl games, New Orleans will also host a huge Monday Night Football tussle between the New Orleans Saints(a SuperBowl champ) and the Atlanta Falcons(they would like to be champs some day but oh well). This is not just any Monday night; this is the day after Christmas when many folks are off work and the visiting Sugar Bowl fans will be arriving in town. And this Saints game could be very impactful on getting the Saints back on a possible Super Bowl roll. In any event, this night after Christmas will provide yet another economic stimulus smack in the middle of the holidays! If that is not enough the Saints will also have another home game vs. Carolina before the Sugar Bowl is played.
And yes, then we can transition to the Bowl games. The Sugar Bowl, set for January 3rd, matches the Michigan Wolverines and the Virginia Tech Hokies. VT has been here before for the Sugar Bowl and they travel well to the Crescent City. Michigan has never been before yet they too should travel well. After all, who would not want to escape Michigan in late December for a trip to the Big Easy. The January 3rd date also means an extra day for folks to spend cash and takes full advantage of the long New Years weekend.
Then on the heels of this important bowl game comes the most important game of them all; the BCS championship pitting LSU vs. Alabama in "the" rematch. Again, Alabama travels well to New Orleans and LSU fans are very strong in supporting any bowl game in New Orleans where they win almost all of the time. Fans will be everywhere and hotel rooms will be scarce. The drama of this rematch plus the local angle of LSU wrapping up that elusive perfect season and a third national championship in 8 years will not hurt either.
That's a lot of sports action and economic impact just in the months of December and early January. There should be at least one, maybe more, NFL playoff games too in the Dome.
Looking out a ways, New Orleans will also host the NCAA Mens's finals in basketball at the Arena in April; another huge sporting event and will host the Arena Bowl in August for the AFL.
What a tribute this is for New Orleans, given up for dead in 2005 and rising to be the sports capitol of America!
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