Dawn Staley had every intention of making it to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, but those plans quickly hit a roadblock.
The legendary WNBA icon and South Carolina basketball coach, known for her passionate support of the Philadelphia Eagles, had hoped to fly in for the big game.
However, she revealed this week that airspace restrictions, put in place for President Donald Trump’s arrival, have forced her to stay put.
Presidential Visit Closes Airspace
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforces strict airspace restrictions whenever the President is traveling.
With Trump scheduled to arrive on Air Force One for the Super Bowl, flights in and out of New Orleans have been affected. S
taley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Philadelphia native, had planned to take a private flight from Austin to New Orleans after coaching her South Carolina Gamecocks against No. 4 Texas on Sunday afternoon.
The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST, leaving just enough time for her to catch the 6:30 p.m. kickoff—until the airspace closure changed everything.
No Hard Feelings—It’s Party Time!
Despite missing out on seeing her Eagles in action live, Staley isn’t too upset.
When speaking to reporters, she acknowledged the situation but didn’t let it dampen her spirits.
“And I’m not going to the Super Bowl; Trump is going to be at the Super Bowl so they closed the airspace,” Staley said, according to the Greenville News.
But she was quick to add, “Party here though.”
Confident in the Eagles
Even though she won’t be in the stadium, Staley has no doubt about how the game will unfold.
She reassured fellow Eagles fans that a victory is on the horizon.
“Rest assured, my Eagles fans,” she said.
“We got this one… Just remember, when the clock strikes zero, we will be winners.”
Trump Attends as Guest of Saints’ Owner
Trump’s presence at Super Bowl LIX comes as a guest of New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson.
The invitation, however, has raised eyebrows, given the ongoing controversy surrounding the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Recent reports from The Associated Press uncovered over 300 internal emails showing how the Saints’ organization assisted the Archdiocese in handling a sex-abuse scandal.
Benson, a devout Catholic, reportedly offered the team’s senior vice president of communications to help the church navigate the crisis in 2018.
These revelations contradict the Saints’ previous claims that they only provided “minimal” assistance.
The team even went to court in an attempt to keep these emails private.
Heightened Security in New Orleans
With Trump’s attendance, security in New Orleans has been significantly increased.
The city, no stranger to hosting major football events, is taking extra precautions, especially in light of the New Year’s Eve terror attack on Bourbon Street.
“Extensive planning and coordination have been in place to ensure the safety of all attendees, players, and staff,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement via Front Office Sports.
“Security measures have been further enhanced this year, given that this will be the first time a sitting President of the United States will attend the event.”
Presidential Appearances at the Super Bowl
Trump’s appearance at the Super Bowl continues a long-standing tradition of presidential involvement in major sporting events.
While he has attended several high-profile college football games recently—including Alabama vs. Georgia and Navy vs. Army—this marks his first Super Bowl as a sitting president.
Additionally, Trump is set to record an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, which will air during the network’s pregame coverage.
Former presidents have made their mark at the Super Bowl as well.
In 2002, George H.W. Bush participated in the coin toss before the New England Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-17.
He and his wife, Barbara Bush, also handled coin toss duties at Super Bowl LI in 2017.
While Staley won’t be making the trip to New Orleans, she’ll be cheering her Eagles on from afar, confident that they’ll get the job done.
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