It’s a big moment for the city and its iconic stadium, eight years after the Superdome was packed with desperate refugees from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
On Sunday, the first Super Bowl in the Superdome since Katrina will signal that the city – famous for its Mardi Gras – is having fun again.
“It’s our biggest global moment,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “You have a city that’s going to be on the world stage dramatically changed.”
Parades and parties began last week for the Carnival and its centrepiece party, the Mardi Gras, will be held Tuesday.
But for the players it will be business as usual while their supporters frolic in the French Quarter, near both team’s hotels.
“We’re not going to New Orleans for nothing else but to bring a [championship] ring back to Baltimore,” said Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in Baltimore before the team flight.
Sunday’s game is the first time that two brothers will be pitted against each other as coaches: San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
Brother Jim was a fan at the 1990 Super Bowl, the fourth of five Super Bowl triumphs by the 49ers, who have never lost a Super Bowl final.