Boycott Bowl has an emotional and economic impact in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - After two weeks of talking about the the infamous no-call that likely cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl, many fans boycotted the Super Bowl on Sunday to attend a massive party downtown.

From anger to depression, some may have felt like they were going through the stages of grief in the days after the NFC Championship game. But, even a second-line-style sendoff may not have provided all the closure people need.

“It’s part of the spirit of New Orleans, of how New Orleans deals with adversity, how people come together, how we celebrate Mardi Gras, how we do other things in this city that are very, very positive, and a sign of the city and boycotting the Super Bowl and having a celebration was very appropriate,” said LSU Health Head of Psychiatry, Dr. Howard Osofsky. “I do think we need to recognize that it has not come to rest, it cannot because an injustice was done, and people are going to remember and deal with it.”

While Boycott Bowl may have been therapeutic for fans, it also brought an economic boost for some local businesses.

“Boycott Bowl for us was really good for business. We were actually up about three percent over a typical Sunday, but we’re also up probably six to eight percent over a typical Super Bowl, so for us, it was phenomenal,” said ACME Oyster House CEO Paul Rotner.

Rotner says they don’t regret their decision to not show the Super Bowl Sunday at any of their restaurants.

“We had a few people that were unhappy we weren’t showing it, but the majority of people applauded us for not showing it,” said Rotner.

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