Well, hello from New Orleans! I’m here with Buffalo News colleagues Jay Skurski and Ryan O’Halloran this week, as we bring you all news – Bills-related and otherwise – from Super Bowl LIX.
New Orleans is a city I adore, and I’m excited to be back here. I’ve been here twice before – once when I worked with high school students as a program leader, and once when the Bills played here on Thanksgiving my first year on the beat.
One thing I love about Super Bowl week is seeing how the host city transforms and embraces all the festivities. I flew here Monday, and upon landing and heading to baggage claim, I was given beads from a Krewe of New Orleans ambassador. The back of the necklace had a QR code to scan and see all sorts of information about the city and the events this week put on by the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee.
Ryan O'Halloran: 11 storylines ahead of 11th New Orleans Super Bowl
I checked off a big item Tuesday morning: my first (and certainly not last) shrimp and grits of the trip. On Tuesday morning, I went to a breakfast hosted by the American Heart Association, where they celebrated their progress and some awards winners this year. Sitting across from the Saints mascot, I got a chance to dive into some delicious shrimp and grits, and you best believe I had seconds.
This postcard is a little hard to write because most of my days have been inside at media availabilities since I got here, but I’m looking forward to exploring a little more later in the week. On my bucket list: Seeing the Super Bowl lights on St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square and hopefully doing an alligator tour.
Write back if there’s anything you’re wondering about the week or the city. While most of my writing will be about football, our krewe is here this week to inform y’all on anything you want to know.
— Katherine Fitzgerald, News Sports Reporter
