Legacy Events

The annual Sugar Bowl, founded in 1934, became one of college football’s premier bowl games, later moving to the Louisiana Superdome in 1975. Since then, it has hosted 48 major bowl games, three stand-alone national championships, 15 title-winning teams, 15 Heisman winners, and numerous Hall of Fame players and coaches. The Sugar Bowl Committee also invests over $1 million annually in community programs, oversees two halls of fame, and has generated more than $2.5 billion for the local economy over the past decade.

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is an annual multi-day celebration held in New Orleans, Louisiana each July over the Fourth-of-July weekend, bringing together music, culture, empowerment and commerce under one roof.

The festival features a high-profile evening concert series at Caesars Superdome—past headliners include major artists across R&B, soul, hip-hop and gospel—alongside daytime programming of panels, seminars, exhibitions, and a large vendor marketplace that uplifts Black-owned businesses at the convention center.

The annual New Orleans Bowl is a postseason college football game showcasing teams from the Sun Belt Conference and an invited opponent. Established in 2001, this bowl game has become a key December tradition in New Orleans, drawing fans from across the region and providing valuable national exposure for participating programs. Beyond the game itself, the event includes community outreach, team activities, and fan celebrations throughout the city. The New Orleans Bowl also boosts the local economy during the holiday season, reinforcing the Superdome’s long-standing role as a premier venue for major sporting events.

The Bayou Classic is an iconic annual football showdown between Grambling State University and Southern University, held at the Caesars Superdome each Thanksgiving weekend. More than a game, it is a celebration of HBCU culture, tradition, and rivalry, drawing tens of thousands of fans to New Orleans. The weekend features the renowned Battle of the Bands, Greek shows, job fairs, and community events that spotlight the legacy of both universities. Since moving to the Superdome in 1974, the Bayou Classic has become a major economic and cultural highlight for the city, bringing national attention and uniting alumni, families, and supporters.

The LHSAA Prep Classic is Louisiana’s annual high school football championship event, hosted at the Caesars Superdome each December. The multi-day series showcases the state’s top teams across multiple divisions, giving student-athletes the rare opportunity to compete for titles on an NFL-caliber field. The event draws families, alumni, and fans from every region, creating a unifying celebration of school pride and youth achievement.