It’s that town again.

It’s a line of commentary from one of 10 previous Super Bowls to be held New Orleans – and it’s that experience is just part of what Michael Sawaya, President and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center called, ‘the Super Bowl of Super Bowls.’

talkSPORT was given a front row seat to the city, the Superdome and it’s plans during a November preview weekend ahead of the big game – it will be loud, it will be lively and there will be food, lots of food.

A whistlestop weekend took in everything from a police escort to the City Park to the NFC South Sunday afternoon game as the hated Atlanta Falcons were the New Orleans Saints’ guests.

NBA action at Smoothie King Arena, college football on homecoming weekend at the home of New Orleans very first Super Bowl – Yulman Stadium – were also on the menu.

In between there was time for the magnificent sculpture garden, followed by an open air kitchen showcasing New Orleans finest Creole cuisine – then a trip to Vue, one of the highest points on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River with a fascinating visual tour of the city’s history.

More food along the way. You’re not in NOLA unless you are eating – fish and grits, po boys, fried chicken, and Gumbo, magnificent Gumbo.

Remarkably, on arrival at the Superdome on Sunday after four days of eating, the first question was ‘have you been fed?’

Time for one more chicken wing, before getting back to the football.

NFL owners decide where the Super Bowl will be hosted, and by all accounts 15 minutes was all it took for Saints owner Gayle Benson to convince her fellow owners to bring the season finale back to the city for a record equalling 11th time.

Miami has hosted the culmination to the NFL season on 11 previous occasions, but the iconic Caesers Superdome boasts a record of its own as it has host more Super Bowls than any other stadium with eight.

Now, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs fans descend on New Orleans – the magnificent, multicultural beating heart of gulf coast will host the the final chapter of this NFL season.

Super Bowl LIX. With a logo inspired by a city that embraces who it is and lets everyone join them in rejoicing in it.

Tahj Williams is the queen of her Black Masking Indian tribe and sewed the beads onto the initial canvas design that will be all over the city – taking inspiration from how she sets about creating her tribal costume.

It’s the first time the NFL had partnered with a local artist for the logo, but it’s not the only reason ‘the greatest show on earth’ keeps coming back to the Bayou.

If it’s good enough for Taylor Swift, it’s good enough for the NFL.

To the annoyance of NFL fans, Swift is also coming back.

A little over three months after the Superdome played host to Swift – the pop superstar will be back to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce, the Chiefs tight end chasing an unprecedented three-peat on February 9 alongside Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and co.

World Champions

Super Bowls in New Orleans

Super Bowl XX, Chicago Bears 46-10 New England Patriots, Louisiana Superdome, Jan 1986

Super Bowl XXIV, San Francisco 49ers 55-10 Denver Broncos, Louisiana Superdome, Jan 1990

Super Bowl XXXI, Green Bay Packers 35-21, New England Patriots, Louisiana Superdome, Jan 1997

Super Bowl XXXVI, New England Patriots 20-17 St Louis Rams, Louisiana Superdome, Feb 2002

Super Bowl XLVII, Baltimore Ravens 34-31 San Francisco 49ers, Mercedes Benz Superdome, Feb 2013

“We had Taylor Swift recently,” Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, says.

“It highlighted that if you really want an event that brings people together in one place, one time where you feel connected with each and every person you are celebrating with, there isn’t a better place because of the way the community embraces it.”

Benson’s 15 minute pitch to her fellow owners is apt, because 15 minutes is all it takes for most visitors to fall in love with the city, it’s people, it’s culture, it’s food, it’s music and it’s sport.

The world of sport keeps coming back.

Wrestlemania, NBA All-Star weekends, college basketball’s final four have all been to New Orleans and been back to New Orleans.

The Chiefs too are coming back.

Reid and Mahomes have won the franchises’s last three Super Bowls in the last five seasons, but the Chiefs won the first of their four back in 1970 beating the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium.

Memorable Super Bowl Superdome moments have featured Brett Favre winning his only Lombardi for the Green Bay Packers, and a first year starter by the name of Tom Brady teaming up with Bill Belichick for a dynasty starting first Lombardi.

Last time out at the Superdome the headlines didn’t stop.

A half-time show headline by superstar Beyonce also saw Jim and John Harbaugh became the first brothers to face off in a Super Bowl. John’s Ravens beat Jim’s 49ers in the ‘Har-Bowl’, surviving a blistering fightback from San Francisco after a stadium blackout forced a 34-minute suspension.

More than 6,000 credentialed media will be in attendance across the week as Radio Row takes over America’s sixth biggest Convention Center, while the teams will take over the Saints facility and Tulane Stadium as well as the Superdome.

The city boasts 26,000 hotel rooms the majority of which are squeezed into the area that straddles the Superdome, the French Quarter and the Convention Center.

Most of those will be taken up by Eagles and Chiefs who will pack out the city, but two huge fanbases will need to have booked early. Ticket prices have rocketed and now are upwards of $5,000.

A stroll down Bourbon Street at any hour of the day or night will confirm New Orleans status as a party town, but the authorities are doing their best to ensure those who call the city home are respected.

Laws are in place banning short-term rentals in the French Quarter, the magnificently picturesque district with bars, shops, cafes and all manner of delights around every corner.

Opening night promises to be a memorable occasion in the Superdome while Honors Night at the Saenger Theater will underline the vast global appeal of the NFL as the stars come out to hand out the awards to the NFL’s finest – all hosted by Snopp Dogg.

A myriad of other events are taking place in the city, Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast is one of many hosting live show’s while Saturday in the city a first of it’s kind Super Bowl Parade will draw inspiration from the city’s famous Mardi Gras – the ‘largest free party on the planet’ which will be back again in March.

Post Malone is on pregame duty, Kendrick Lamar take the Half-Time Show lead and everything about this year’s Super Bowl will have New Orleans at it’s heart.

And that beating heart is the Superdome – the stadium that opened its arms and saved it’s residents during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“This building has become the social fabric of New Orleans,” executive vice president of arena, stadium and theater at ASM Global Doug Thornton told us.

After housing those that could not leave the city, the stadium needed to undergo it’s own refit. Considerations about a rebuild, or even a brand new stadium were put on the back burner as the desire was always to keep the Superdome front and center.

Why wouldn’t it. Entry to the stadium on matchday features stewards and parking lot staff who know the fans by their first name terms.

“We like to refer to the Superdome as the living room of New Orleans,” Thornton adds, before embarking on the story of the $560m renovation

As well as that homely attitude, the half a billion dollar overhaul, has featured escalators and atriums, pitchside luxury bunker suites, and 40foot long bars, all made possible by reclaiming space outside and inside, above and below.

The Superdome has never looked back and has never looked better.

‘It’s what we do’ and ‘Built to host’ are recurring themes across the city and the returning Super Bowl testament to that

You get the feeling they’ll be back again.

talkSPORT were in New Orleans as part of a visit organized by New Orleans & Company and the Super Bowl LIX Host Committee and will be back the the city for seven days of coverage as the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles.

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