In the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 and injured dozens, Allstate Sugar Bowl officials said the decision to postpone the game to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET will enable security teams to increase their coverage around the city and especially at the Caesars Superdome.

Allstate Corp ALL and security officials did not specify what the new measures entail. Wednesday’s postponement was a first in the 91-year history of the Sugar Bowl; officials said “it was the prudent move.” The organization said they made the decision “in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities as well as the two universities, Caesars Superdome and ESPN.”

"Public safety is paramount," Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said at a media briefing alongside federal, state and local officials, including Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "All parties all agree that it's in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game," reported the Associated Press.

Walt Disney Co. DIS-owned ESPN will televise the game, which was initially postponed 24 hours, but both Georgia and Notre Dame requested an earlier start time, according to the Times Picayune. 

The postponement meant that many fans holding tickets would not be able to attend the game. Ticket prices online plummeted in some cases to less than $25 as fans were holding them and needed to leave NOLA on Thursday, “tried to unload them,” according to the local news outlet.

Both Delta Air Lines Inc DAL and Southwest Airlines Co LUV are waiving certain fees for travelers affected by the terror attack, allowing flexible rebooking options, reported Fox5.

Notre Dame Coach Speaks

"What I told the team is in the toughest moments, the culture of any program, of a nation, is revealed," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt on Wednesday’s SportsCenter. "I have a lot of faith this country will rally around the city of New Orleans and support all the victims and families that were affected today."

Van Pelt asked how he and the team prepared for the game in their first meeting following the tragedy in NOLA. “The first part of that meeting was to mourn and pray for our country. But the end of the meeting was to redirect our focus to preparing for this game,” Freeman replied.

The Sugar Bowl has been played annually in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day since 1935.  The Superdome, of which Caesars Entertainment Inc CZR holds the naming rights, has been hosting the Sugar Bowl every year since it was built in 1975, with the exception of 2006 when Hurricane Katrina damaged the facility.

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