New Orleans uses Super Bowl welcome news conference to say it's ready to shine

'We cannot wait to show off all New Orleans has to offer';

Feb 03, 2025 at 02:24 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

Gayle Benson | Super Bowl LIX Opening Press Conference

The Super Bowl LIX welcome news conference Monday morning provided a homestretch opportunity for New Orleans to salute the NFL for the 2018 decision that allowed the city to host its record-tying 11^th Super Bowl, which will be contested by two-time defending champion Kansas City and Philadelphia on Sunday in the Caesars Superdome.

New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson spoke extensively on the amount of work that has gone into the city's and state's preparation.

"After more than six years of hard work and preparation, countless hours of work by our host committee, volunteers, government and business leaders, the moment we have all been anxiously awaiting is finally here," Benson said.

"On behalf of our city, state and region, I am so proud to welcome the NFL, its partners, the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and their fans to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIV. We cannot wait to show off all New Orleans has to offer, and make sure all our guests leave well fed, well served – responsibly, of course – and full of incredible memories that will stay with them forever."

Benson noted that the size and scope of the league's signature event has changed – and even that evolution required adjustment in the wake of a terrorist attack in the French Quarter in the early morning of New Year's Day – but that unified efforts helped allow New Orleans and the Saints to again display their prowess as major event hosts.

"It could not happen without complete coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the league, our New Orleans Saints team, host committee, local and state government and all the people who take part in making sure this is the safest, most enjoyable and most memorable Super Bowl ever for our guests, participating teams and league partners," she said.

Peter O'Reilly, the NFL executive vice president of club business and league events, served as the league liaison with New Orleans and the host committee, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, led by president and CEO Jay Cicero.

"We could not be more excited," O'Reilly said. "The Kansas City Chiefs are on the ground here, the Philadelphia Eagles are here, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is here – it came in on a traditional New Orleans second line into Jackson Square (Sunday night) into a beautiful projection show on the St. Louis Cathedral – so we are ready to roll. We are ready to roll and we could not be more excited.

"We are so grateful and we want to do right by the city and the state in this Super Bowl. We've got a great matchup. As Mrs. Benson said, we've got a great stage – a beautifully renovated Caesars Superdome. This is our biggest stage and we're going to shine a big, global spotlight on it in every way."

"Peter is truly a partner who answers every call, every text, and has always put the best interests of New Orleans first every step of the way," Benson said.

She said that statement also applies to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

"Roger has always been a champion for the city of New Orleans and played an integral part in helping the Saints return to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and making certain we were not only able to get the Super Bowl up and running again, but to make sure the full power of the NFL and its media partners were engaged to announce to the world that New Orleans was alive and well, and open for business when we took the field on that memorable Monday night (on Sept. 25, 2006)," she said.

On Feb. 9, the Chiefs and Eagles will create new memories in the Superdome, made possible by the league and New Orleans, with the Sports Foundation playing a significant role.

"Jay (Cicero) has led more host committees than he probably cares to admit, and he has always done it with class and integrity," Benson said. "And we are incredibly appreciative of Jay and his sports foundation staff for doing the hard work over many years to make this week possible."

Photos: NFL casts light show atop New Orleans' St. Louis Cathedral

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and the National Football League celebrated the arrival of Super Bowl LIX to New Orleans with a light show at the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in the French Quarter on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.