College football

Sugar site narrowed to two

Officials hope Baton Rouge is ready to play host to the game, but keep Atlanta as an option, just in case.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published September 21, 2005

Although the desire and primary goal is to play this season's Sugar Bowl in Baton Rouge, La., officials announced Tuesday that, to be prudent, they simultaneously are looking at Atlanta as an alternate site.

"We want, in every way possible, to try to conduct our event in the state of Louisiana," the game's executive director Paul Hoolahan said during a conference call after meeting with the Bowl Championship Series organizers for the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

While LSU's Tiger Stadium would be available, Baton Rouge lacks the necessary hotel rooms with fewer than 10,000, he said. A typical Sugar Bowl uses about 32,000 rooms.

Playing there would require that New Orleans have enough hotels in service and rooms that weren't being used by recovery workers, employees and evacuees. If fans can stay there, will there be transportation to and from Baton Rouge, will there be emergency services and can a small city that is already challenged by a near doubling of its population handle the crowd?

The answers are unknown and Hoolahan said "somebody's promises" won't cut it.

"The issues that surround housing, transportation and all the infrastructure matters remain troubling," said Hoolahan, who added he started contemplating possibilities the day before Katrina hit.

There are far fewer uncertainties about Atlanta, one of numerous cities that offered a temporary home to the prestigious and storied bowl game, but the logical option given its size and location in the heart of the SEC.

Hoolahan has talked to the SEC and Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan, who doubles as the president of the Atlanta Sports Council, and received assurances that the Georgia Dome and the city could handle the game.

"We certainly hope that they're able to play the game in Baton Rouge," said Stokan, whose bowl game that matches the ACC and SEC is set for Dec. 30, three days before the Sugar Bowl. "We think that's the right thing to do. We're rooting for them. But if that didn't work for whatever reason, we would be more than happy to play whatever role we can to make sure the Sugar Bowl is a first-class event like it is in New Orleans and that the teams and fans have a first-class experience in Atlanta."

Hoolahan, hopeful that the Louisiana Superdome can be repaired and ready for the 2006 season, is targeting the first week of October to make a decision.

"It's not an easy one and it would be particularly difficult if we have to bring the event outside of the state," he said. "That would be gut-wrenching, not only for us, but I think for the people of Louisiana. ... We have to convince ourselves, we have to convince the BCS partners, the Southeastern Conference and, in particular, I really feel strongly about this, (convince) the legislators, the governor, the mayor, the great people of the state of Louisiana that we did everything humanly possible to make it happen in the state of Louisiana."

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:24:18]