BATON ROUGE, La. – Super Bowl Sunday brought a surge of spending to the Capital Region, directly benefiting local businesses, according to reports. The annual championship game, which drew over 100 million viewers nationally according to Time Magazine, isn’t just about football; it’s a significant economic driver.
Savannah Argenti, watching the game at Ivar’s Sports Bar, expressed her excitement, saying, “My favorite part this year is the Patriots playing and my best friend’s playing in it, so really excited about that.” Chris Ciolek, also at Ivar’s, noted the compelling matchup, stating, “It’s a pretty dynamic Super Bowl, you know. You got the rematch from a couple years ago, got the second-year quarterback Drake Maye, but you know I’m a Bills fan, so I can’t really support the Patriots right now. So, Seahawks all the way.”
Local establishments, like Ivar’s, experienced a boost in business regardless of whether the New Orleans Saints were participating in the game. Dylan Deynoodt, a bartender at Ivar’s, explained, “They’re gonna come out, they’re gonna come drink, they’re gonna have a good time no matter who’s playing.”
Customers echoed this sentiment, highlighting the social aspect of watching the Super Bowl. “I’ve been a Seahawks fan for about 20 years now. But, everyone comes out, they have a good time, and it’s always popping, and they’re all here for it,” Deynoodt said. George Ramsey shared his enthusiasm, stating his favorite part is “normally, like, I guess every other year seeing the Patriots hoist the Lombardi trophy.”
The atmosphere at Ivar’s, and likely other establishments across the region, offered a different experience than watching from home. Sammi Records, a customer at Ivar’s, observed, “I like the fact they’re all the way in Louisiana And as a northerner, so many Patriots fans, so many different team fans that really go die hard for their teams in the middle of Louisiana. You know we have Seahawks fans everywhere, we have Patriots fans, Ravens fans, 49ers fans, so I think that’s awesome.”
Deynoodt summed up the appeal of Super Bowl Sunday, saying, “Super Bowl, Sunday, man, it’s just a great day of the year. Wish it could be on Saturday, for how we feel on the next day. But man it’s, it’s a great day to be around friends, be around family, be around people you enjoy.”
Beyond the immediate boost to bars and restaurants, Louisiana as a whole saw a significant economic impact from Super Bowl LIX, which was held in New Orleans. A study released in June 2025 by Louisiana State University’s E.J. Ourso College of Business found the event generated a total of $1.25 billion in economic activity statewide. This figure more than doubled the impact of the 2013 Super Bowl held in New Orleans and ranks as the second most financially impactful Super Bowl in NFL history.
Governor Jeff Landry hailed the event as a success, stating, “Super Bowl LIX was a tremendous success for New Orleans and all of Louisiana… Hosting the Super Bowl is so much more than a football game. It’s an opportunity to drive an economic impact that is both immediate and long-term.”
The study, authored by LSU Professor Dek Terrell and Economist Nikolas J. Henderson, detailed the economic benefits. These included 9,787 local jobs supported statewide, $658 million in total spending by visitors and vendors, $395 million in wages generated for Louisiana workers, and $82.7 million in state and local tax revenue. The event attracted 115,000 total attendees, with 100,000 traveling from out of state, representing 45 U.S. States.
Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, expressed optimism about future opportunities, stating, “Quite simply, there is no better city, no better state, and no better people to host the Super Bowl.” The success of Super Bowl LIX has already prompted state and local officials to begin pitching the NFL for a return engagement.
