Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained that security has increased after the Jan. 1 attack, in which 14 people were killed and another 35 were injured. Ahead of the Super Bowl, on Feb. 9, Noem and NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier, the former head of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, urged people to speak up if they “see something suspicious” at the big game.

“I would say that if you see something that has not been dealt with, to continue to raise the level of awareness until the response has been taken care of,” Noem said in a press briefing on Monday.

When do the gates open for the Super Bowl?

The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans will open at 1:30 p.m., and “a lot of road closures” will be in place. Lanier has advised that walking is “the best option” to get to the Super Bowl, given that New Orleans is “a walking city.”

Due to increased security, people are advised to bring as little as possible, and any items brought must be carried in a clear bag. Ice chests and coolers are forbidden.

What extra precautions have been taken this year?

This year’s game will see 2,000 law enforcement officers on patrol, along with 350 National Guard troops deployed to assist with security. 

Noem also said there are “no credible threats” to the game ahead of Sunday.

Is concealed carry allowed?

Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) defended the decision to allow concealed carry in security enhancement zones, which will be present near the Superdome, as well as NFL Experience venues. The governor cited statistics that have shown that areas with concealed carry are “a lot safer” than those without, and “great lengths” were made to reach a balance between safety and freedom.

“And no one has been able to prove to me under which areas where concealed carry was in place under which the threat was greater,” Landry explained.

As for the Superdome, firearms are among the prohibited items.

Are drones allowed in the stadium?

Lanier has strictly warned against bringing drones into the Superdome to fly during the game. Doing so could result in a fine of up to $7,500.

This year’s big game will pit the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles, and both teams are previous Super Bowl champions. This year’s Super Bowl is also the third in a row in which the Chiefs will play. They won both their previous games, and winning this game would make them the first NFL team to win three Super Bowl games in a row. 

President Donald Trump will conduct an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, which will air at 3 p.m. on Sunday as part of the Super Bowl pregame show. Trump offered to do the presidential interview ahead of last year’s Super Bowl when then-President Joe Biden turned it down.

The game will be broadcast on Fox News television affiliates nationwide and streamed on Tubi and the NFL app.