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CNN Live Saturday

Security Tightened at the Super Bowl

Aired February 02, 2002 - 17:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The TV ads making their debut on the Super Bowl are always good for some laughs, but there's a deadly serious side to Super Bowl XXXVI. In the wake of September 11 and evidence that terrorists may have been planning more attacks on the U.S., security precautions for tomorrow evening's big game at the New Orleans Superdome are extraordinary. Let's check in with CNNsi's Mike Galanos on the uneasy weekend in the Big Easy. Hi there, Mike.

MIKE GALANOS, SNNSI CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

It's a real dichotomy. We arrived here to cover the Super Bowl on Monday, and as the week has gone on there is a real energy to the city of New Orleans. It's a festive atmosphere, but the overriding theme right now is security.

The Secret Service took over security for this event mid- November, and dubbed it a national security event, first time a sporting event has had that designation. As you go down to the Superdome, you will see double the police presence, double the money has been spent on security. And even down in the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, where people are partying, you will see National Guardsmen in Army fatigues.

The question then becomes, what do fans think about this? How do they feel to walk around and have policeman on horses, military fatigues? And as we talked to some of them, the reaction is mixed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are just making it safe. So, you know, it's inconvenient, but it's good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. They got to take their precautions at such a big event down here. So I think they are doing the smart thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The feeling I'm getting of this becoming like a police state. We got too much security, and I think we got to draw a line somewhere to have a freedom of security. And I think we're just getting kind of too much worried about every little thing, and I think we cannot as a free nation live like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP) GALANOS: Well, that is the feeling from fans today, Super Bowl Saturday. The feeling will change on Super Bowl Sunday. Fans are arrive -- or are advised to arrive roughly five hours before kick-off, because everyone is going to have to go through a security check point.

The advice: Travel light. A ticket and a wallet will get you through rather quickly. Cell phones, pagers, electronics are discouraged, because then your inspection will be much more, as they're calling it "arduous." Then, as you see here, a list of items that are completely banned. Some you'd think would be innocent items, like foam fingers, noise makers, things like that. Back packs, purses, fanny packs -- all on a banned list of items.

So, again, if you're a fan going to the game, the advice is: Get there early. There is going to be some real headline acts playing, like Paul McCartney, the Boston Pops. Get there early, enjoy it, embrace it. It is a new world, but the bottom line is to try to make the Superdome the safest place in America on Super Sunday.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Good advice, Mike. Thanks very much.

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