For Immediate Release: February 17, 2025                    
Media Contacts:  
Kelly Schulz, kschulz@neworleans.com 
Mary Beth Romig, mbromig@neworleans.com 

 

New Orleans, La. (February 16, 2025) – The Crescent City is basking in the glow of yet another triumphant milestone, as New Orleans hosted the National Football League’s Super Bowl LIX for the record-tying 11th time, showcasing why the city remains the ultimate destination for world-class events. This historic achievement spotlights New Orleans’ unmatched hospitality, culture, and community spirit and underscores what happens when the city marches toward a common goal.

As the city rolled out the red carpet for Philadelphia and Kansas City fans, the rest of the world got in on the fun. Thanks to record-breaking stats on media credentials and viewership, our city’s indelible culture and so many “only in New Orleans” moments were on display for the world to see.

“No other host city tastes like New Orleans, sounds like New Orleans, looks like New Orleans or feels like New Orleans,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, the New Orleans tourism industry’s official destination marketing and sales organization. “And that all comes down to our people. They are the ones who craft the flavors, play the sounds, and exude the passion and an untiring spirit of hospitality. All of these are what make New Orleans a beloved destination for so many.”

The numbers speak for themselves:

  • An estimated 127.7 million viewers tuned in for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9, according to Nielsen, making it the largest audience for a Super Bowl and for a single-network telecast in TV history.
  • The Louis Armstrong International Airport processed 43,188 passengers on Monday, February 10, marking the busiest day in the airport’s history.
  • Over 546,000 airline seats facilitated arrivals and departures between February 2–11.
  • Downtown hotels reported full capacity, a testament to the city’s vibrant appeal.
  • The city welcomed 6,414 members of the media from 20 nations across the world, a record number for the NFL.

​The Philadelphia Eagles took home the championship, and the City of New Orleans secured a resounding victory during Super Bowl LIX weekend. And like the big game, it truly was a team effort.

Federal, state, regional, and local law enforcement agencies demonstrated exceptional collaboration, with two years of meticulous planning ensuring a safe, secure, and celebratory environment for Super Bowl LIX. Their efforts were crucial, particularly in addressing challenges stemming from the events of New Year’s Day.

Partner organizations like the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the New Orleans Saints, the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans, the NOTCF, ASM Global and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, sponsors like Entergy, Chevron and others, along with non-profit organizations like GNO, Inc. played pivotal roles in creating an unforgettable New Orleans experience for visitors and media from around the globe. Their contributions cemented the Crescent City’s reputation as a premier destination.

“Having the opportunity to showcase our city to the world like we did during the Super Bowl, provided exposure we simply can’t afford to buy.  That promotional value will allow us to compete and win countless future conferences, conventions, meetings, and other major events and attract millions of visitors to our community to create a substantial impact for our residents and businesses and generate much-needed revenue for our city and state. Without full buy-in from our partners in the hospitality industry and beyond we would not have delivered the success we saw last week,” continued Leger. “It will take several weeks to see the full statistics, but we know this is one of New Orleans's greatest achievements yet.  Our city once again demonstrated that we are Built to Host major events.”

Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com captured the sentiment perfectly: “Take a bow … and a breath. You crushed Super Bowl LIX. The game. The week. The event. It was an overwhelming success.”

New Orleans is not pressing pause on its momentum. As the Philadelphia Eagles were departing the city, 4,000 convention guests moved into the Hilton on Tuesday for a gathering of educators. Looking ahead, the city is poised to welcome more than a dozen conferences and meetings over the next several weeks, and with Mardi Gras just weeks away, the city is gearing up for more visitors, celebrations, and events.

As the world saw during Super Bowl LIX, New Orleans is truly Built to Host. The city’s unique culture, walkable infrastructure, and welcoming community make it a top choice for sports championships, conventions, festivals, and other events large and small.

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About New Orleans & Company 
New Orleans & Company is the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans’ tourism industry. Founded in 1960, our mission is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to our city for the economic, social and community benefit of New Orleans and its people. Our vision is to ensure New Orleans remains the most remarkable, unique, and welcoming city in the world. For more information, visit us at neworleans.com or on social media @VisitNewOrleans or @Neworleansandco.