New Orleans greases poles on Bourbon Street ahead of Super Bowl LIX
As NFL fans from all over descend on New Orleans for Sunday night’s Super Bowl LIX between the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelpia Eagles, it appears the local police are taking every precaution immaginable.
According to one Philadelphia-based TV reporter, that includes a tactic that has been infamously used by Philadelphia officials since before the Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl victory — caking local street poles with Vaseline or Crisco shortening grease to inhibit drunk fans from scaling them while out celebrating.
“Breaking news: this not Broad Street, this is Bourbon Street, but take a look at this guys, you’re going to want to see this back in Philly, they have greased the poles on Bourbon Street,” FOX-29 reporter Jeff Cole said during a live hit from New Orleans on Sunday morning. “Look at that. They’re taking a clue from Philadelphia, they have officially greased the poles here, these are antique street light poles. The police say for the very first time, they have greased the poles on Bourbon Street. So, maybe they’re expecting something, maybe they know something we don’t, but it looks like a little bit of Broad Street has been brought to Bourbon Street. Go Birds.”
According to Nola.com, many of the various light and street poles littered around the French Quarter are being greased with Vaseline by local business owners in an effort to avoid out-of-town fans from potentially hurting themselves during the post-Super Bowl celebration, regardless of the winner.
And while it’s become somewhat of a tradition for Philadelphia police to cake Cristco onto local Broad Street light poles before any big sporting events, the New Orleans police haven’t followed suit.
“The city of New Orleans does not grease street light poles,” Barry Fletcher, spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department, told The Times-Picayune. “However, it is very common for building owners to grease balcony support poles.”
Lathering the poles along Bourbon Street is moreso done as a symbolic kick-off to the annual Mardi Gras festivities, with the French Quarter’s Royal Sonesta Hotel hosting a “Greasing of the Poles” event for over half a century, according to Nola.com. During the annual event, local participants dress in costumes and make a performance about the endeavor, with the assembled crowd voting on a winner.
Chris Mortensen honored by NFL, Superdome ahead of Super Bowl 59
Late ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen was honored by the NFL inside the Superdome press box ahead of Super Bowl 59. Sunday marks the first Super Bowl since his death in March.
A memorial was set up for the longtime ESPN journalist, displaying a special Super Bowl LIX football encased in glass next to a vase of white roses and other flowers. It had a photo of him working at the ESPN desk next to a short statement from the NFL.
“The NFL presents this Super Bowl LIX game ball in memory of our friend and colleague, Chris Mortensen,” it reads. “An ESPN veteran of 32 years, Chris’ insightful NFL commentary and unwavering dedication to his profession, … respect and admiriation of colleagues and sports enthusiasts alike and will never be forgotten.”
Mortensen began his career in journalism in 1969. He covered news, investigations, and of course, sports, before making his first appearance on the world leader in sports broadcasting, ESPN, in 1991. That year, he released a book titled, Playing for Keeps: How One Man Kept the Mob from Sinking Its Hooks into Pro Football.
In 2016, Mortensen had to take a leave of absence from his work with the network when he received a diagnosis of Stage 4 throat cancer. He announced his retirement from ESPN in September of 2023.
Barkley Truax contributed to this report.
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