NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Hundreds of business owners and representatives had the chance to meet and connect with one another ahead of Super Bowl LIX, scheduled to be played in New Orleans in February 2025. "Hosting a major event is a true community effort, and it takes a lot of leadership from the community," said Jay Cicero with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. Swifties got ‘Bad Blood’ over hotel reservations being canceled It's part of the Super Bowl Source Program, where business owners from historically underrepresented backgrounds, such as women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities or veterans get the chance to provide their services to one of the most watched television broadcasts in the world. "Only the Super Bowl, only the NFL can bring this level of exposure and increased access to opportunity," said committee member Kim Boyle. An opportunity that business owner Ben Miller says comes once in a lifetime. "Being a part of the source is really an incredible once in a Iifetime opportunity to sort of see other people and see where you can fit in with the local community as well as on a national stage," said Miller. Violent crime down across all districts despite New Orleans Police Department officer shortage Cicero says businesses will feel the impacts for years to come. "Some of them will receive contracts and not all of them will but some of them receive contracts through the NFL, or through the host committee or through some of their partners that may be involved with the Super Bowl. So, to be able to put that on your resume, to be able to say, I did work for the Super Bowl LIX and for the NFL, that should lead to more business down the road," said Cicero. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Hurricane relief drive results in 57 completely full pallets of supplies Hundreds of business owners in Super Bowl Source Program meet at Caesars Superdome Man armed with rifle accused of threatening FEMA workers in North Carolina 6 people accuse Diddy of sexual assault in new wave of lawsuits Dirt Cheap stores to close after parent company files for bankruptcy