With the arrival of the Super Bowl coming to New Orleans on Feb. 3, the Big Easy has commenced the necessary procedures for getting ready to host the game. The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers headed into town earlier this week for the epic showdown in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

With close to about 150,000 people heading into town for such an event, hotels have been working hard to accommodate the onslaught of people for the occasion.

According to WDSU, hotel rooms have been cleaned and inspected thoroughly to take caution of the heavy flu season the nation has been facing in recent months.

Safety of civilians is also a main concern for the city, so additional security has been added to maintain control. In an article by nola.com, NOPD Superintendet Ronal Serpas was quoted,  “There’€™s no question, and it’s an indisputable fact that the New Orleans Police Department is the best agency in the world that handles large crowds. We take pride in that.”

Events and tents are being set up outside the Superdome to provide some entertainment for those who want to be close to the action, but don’t have the actual means to get inside — with seating for the Super Bowl costing a range of about $1900-$3100 per ticket. Ticket-holders, visitors, and locals alike can take part in special events throughout the weekend like the NFL Experience in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the plethora of musical entertainment on Verizon Super Bowl Boulevard in Woldenberg Park.

Super Bowl Sunday promises to bring in a very large amount of media publicity. The game will be broadcasted live around the nation and is sure to show off very flattering angles of the city.  With the new Loyola Avenue line now open, the street car network is now extended to include stops near the Superdome.  And, a 20-story mural of the Lombardi trophy has been affixed to the windows of the Hyatt Hotel next to the Dome.

The Super Bowl also brings in an exceptional sum of revenue for the city — approx. $185 million, according to thephinsider.com.  From tickets to the game, souvenirs, Mardi Gras events, food, and hotel rooms, many businesses are looking to having their hands full for quite some time.

Many local Mardi Gras Krewes were also affected by Super Bowl events, having to schedule parades early to avoid conflicts.  Parades that were required to roll early included Oshun, Cleopatra, Ponchartrain, Sparta, Pygmalion, Alla, Carrollton, and King Arthur.

The game will be aired live on CBS at 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday. Audiences will be watching very enthusiastically for the heated competition, the Harbaugh brothers’ coaching battle, the famous Super Bowl commercials, and the unique culture New Orleans has to offer.

(Image from rollingout.com)