Sugar Bowl Ticket Prices Plummet as CFP Quarterfinal Postponed in wake of Bourbon St. Attack

The Allstate Sugar Bowl was pushed back one day in the wake of a brazen terrorist attack in New Orleans that took place in the early hours of January 1. As of Thursday morning, officials say that 14 people were killed when a man drove a pickup truck into the crowd of New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street, with dozens of others hospitalized.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia was scheduled to take place hours later at the Caesars Superdome, but was pushed back to Thursday at 3 p.m. in the wake of the incident and the FBI investigation that has shut down activity surrounding the area of the attack.

“Our prayers are with the family members and loved ones of all those impacted by the terrible attack in New Orleans this morning,” reads a statement posted to X attributed to Notre Dame President Rev. Robert Dowd. “We also pray for all those injured and extend our deepest gratitude to the brave first responders who risked their lives to protect others.”

With the postponement, the ticket prices for those looking to see the remaining CFP quarterfinal have plummeted. Sugar Bowl tickets are available for as low as $27, with a median asking price of about $112, according to Ticket Club. A week ago, the least expensive ticket for the game between the No. 2 seed Bulldogs and the Fighting Irish for Ticket Club members was nearly ten times the last-minute price seen today – $216.

For those in New Orleans or close enough to make it for kickoff, that price would now get you a lower level seat near the 50 yard line.

The tragedy in the crescent city overshadowed a largely successful first go at the expanded CFP tournament format, which went from four to 12 teams and two to four rounds this winter. Lower seeded Ohio State and Texas teams advanced to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic next week with victories over Oregon and Arizona State in Wednesday’s other scheduled quarterfinal contests, while Penn State awaits the winner of the Sugar Bowl in the Capital One Orange Bowl semifinal game January 9.