New Orleans’ airport is Super Bowl ready, and the Chiefs fans are already trickling in
Several times upon landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport I have been greeted by a brass band performing on a circular stage near baggage claim.
Alas, not Wednesday. I arrived in the late afternoon, and the stage was empty. (They’ve got a calendar you can check out if you’re interested. Sophia Parigi goes on at 5 p.m. Friday.)
I did observe several manifestations of Super Bowl anticipation, though.
One of the first things I noticed is that the televisions in at least three of the airport’s restaurants and bars were airing a re-run of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. I was tempted to order a beer and watch a quarter or two, but I had places to be. I kept it moving.
Several shops were selling football merch, including a Super Bowl LIX jacket with a blue, red, and white colorway that would have been perfect for a Buffalo Bills fan. Shame about that…
Elsewhere in the airport, temporary Super Bowl murals and other bits of NFL marketing welcomed fans. Did you know that Pepsi is the official soft drink of Super Bowl LIX? Several advertisements wrapped around poles and elevators got that message across: “Sip Easy in the Big Easy.”
I had time to soak this all in while waiting for my bag. I was very proud of my packing job prior to leaving — two weeks of clothes stuffed into one carry-on suitcase and a backpack.
The Southwest desk clerk didn’t share my enthusiasm. He forced me to set my suitcase on a little measurement shelf. I had utilized my Beis’ expanding zipper, which had apparently bumped my bag beyond carry-on status.
“You gotta check that,” the clerk said.
That seemed unnecessarily strict to me, given the fact that the flight was less than half-full. But I complied.
And ultimately, it worked out OK, because while I was waiting at baggage claim in New Orleans, I spotted an older woman sitting on an airport scooter fully decked out in Chiefs gear: a black-and-white letterman-style Chiefs jacket, a red Chiefs hoodie, a white Chiefs hat, red sneakers, and a red Chiefs purse.
Her name, she told me, was Mary Bey. She is 67 years old and lives in south Kansas City. This is her second time visiting New Orleans. No surprise: She flew in for the Super Bowl.
“I’m going to the game, oh yeah,” she said. “Go Chiefs, that’s all I got to say.” “Go Chiefs,” I agreed.
This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
