New Orleans is often referred to as a “Destination City.” In the world of tourism that’s shorthand for “A place people come to, to enjoy our architecture, food, music, and liberal attitude toward alcohol consumption.”

People who organize activities that depend on attracting large crowds – like conventions – capitalize on our reputation as a Destination City. These folks figure if they hold their meeting in New Orleans it will be an incentive for people to show up.

The Superbowl

The same is true of sporting events. We’re hosting the Superbowl again in 2025. That will make a total of 11 times New Orleans has hosted the Superbowl, the most of any city in the country, equaled only by Miami.

But the Superbowl, the NCAA Final Four, and other what-are-called “Tier 1 sporting events” don’t decide to come to New Orleans just because fans can walk down Bourbon Street with a Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane and do karaoke at The Cat’s Meow.

Well, okay, that’s part of the reason. But the greater parts of these decisions are made in boardrooms for considerations that are complex and financial. The New Orleans representatives in these business meetings are members of an organization called The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

Since its inception in 1988, The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has been responsible for creating $3.4 Billion worth of economic impact for the city of New Orleans and State of Louisiana.

For most of that time, Jay Cicero has been a part of the Foundation. And since 1997 he’s been its President and CEO.

Mini-Golf

If you live in New Orleans, your own sports activities are a lot more frequent than the Superbowl. They’re also a lot less flamboyant and flashy - though they can still frequently be accompanied by an alcoholic beverage.

Take for example putt-putt. Or mini-golf as it is also known. We have two 18-hole mini-golf courses in New Orleans. They’re both in City Park. In an area called City Putt.

City Putt is the most recent attraction to be built in City Park. It opened in 2013 at a cost of $2.7m. And, because of wear-and-tear brought about by putt-putt’s enormous popularity, the courses were totally refurbished in 2017.

Today, New Orleanians play over 80,000 rounds of mini-golf a year at City Putt. To put that number in context, it’s double the number of rounds played at courses in other cities of comparable size.

The guiding light of the New Orleans mini golf industry is the Director of Recreational Services at New Orleans City Park, Waymon Morris.

This show was recorded live over lunch at NOLA Pizza. See photos from this show by Jill Lafleur at our website. 

New Orleans is often referred to as a &ldquo;Destination City.&rdquo; In the world of tourism that&rsquo;s shorthand for &ldquo;A place people come to, to enjoy our architecture, food, music, and liberal attitude toward alcohol consumption.&rdquo;
People who organize activities that depend on attracting large crowds &ndash; like conventions &ndash; capitalize on our reputation as a Destination City. These folks figure if they hold their meeting in New Orleans it will be an incentive for people to show up.
The Superbowl
The same is true of sporting events. We&rsquo;re hosting the Superbowl again in 2025. That will make a total of 11 times New Orleans has hosted the Superbowl, the most of any city in the country, equaled only by Miami.
But the Superbowl, the NCAA Final Four, and other what-are-called &ldquo;Tier 1 sporting events&rdquo; don&rsquo;t decide to come to New Orleans just because fans can walk down Bourbon Street with a Pat O&rsquo;Brien&rsquo;s Hurricane and do karaoke at The Cat&rsquo;s Meow.
Well, okay, that&rsquo;s part of the reason. But the greater parts of these decisions are made in boardrooms for considerations that are complex and financial. The New Orleans representatives in these business meetings are members of an organization called <a href="https://www.gnosports.com/">The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation</a>.
Since its inception in 1988, The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has been responsible for creating $3.4 Billion worth of economic impact for the city of New Orleans and State of Louisiana.
For most of that time, Jay Cicero has been a part of the Foundation. And since 1997 he&rsquo;s been its President and CEO.
Mini-Golf
If you live in New Orleans, your own sports activities are a lot more frequent than the Superbowl. They&rsquo;re also a lot less flamboyant and flashy - though they can still frequently be accompanied by an alcoholic beverage.
Take for example putt-putt. Or mini-golf as it is also known. We have two 18-hole mini-golf courses in New Orleans. They&rsquo;re both in City Park. In an area called <a href="https://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/city-putt">City Putt.</a>
City Putt is the most recent attraction to be built in City Park. It opened in 2013 at a cost of $2.7m. And, because of wear-and-tear brought about by putt-putt&rsquo;s enormous popularity, the courses were totally refurbished in 2017.
Today, New Orleanians play over 80,000 rounds of mini-golf a year at City Putt. To put that number in context, it&rsquo;s double the number of rounds played at courses in other cities of comparable size.
The guiding light of the New Orleans mini golf industry is the Director of Recreational Services at New Orleans City Park, Waymon Morris.
This show was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://nolapizzaco.com/">NOLA Pizza</a>. See photos from this show by <a href="https://www.lafleurphoto.com">Jill Lafleur</a> at <a href="https://itsneworleans.com/2021/06/09/from-mini-golf-to-the-superbowl/">our website</a>.&nbsp;

OUT TO LUNCH finds economist and Tulane finance professor Peter Ricchiuti conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch at Commander’s Palace restaurant. In his 9th year in the host seat, Ricchiuti’s learned but uniquely NOLA informal perspective has established Out to Lunch as the voice of Crescent City business. You can also hear the show on WWNO 89.9FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds economist and Tulane finance professor Peter Ricchiuti conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch at Commander&rsquo;s Palace restaurant. In his 9th year in the host seat, Ricchiuti&rsquo;s learned but uniquely NOLA informal perspective has established Out to Lunch as the voice of Crescent City business. You can also hear the show on WWNO 89.9FM.

Tulane finance professor Peter Ricchiuti conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch at Commander's Palace restaurant.

It's New Orleans: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH finds the country's most entertaining finance professor Peter Ricchiuti conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch. Each week Peter invites guests from the New Orleans business world to join him, sometimes for fine dining others for pizza. From CEO's to startups, managers, musicians, biomed needle-movers, Silicon Bayou success stories and entrepreneurs of all stripes put aside the elevator pitch and the talking points and actually enjoy themselves. It's business, New Orleans style. 
You can also hear the show on WWNO 89.9FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds the country's most entertaining finance professor <a href="https://freeman.tulane.edu/faculty-research/finance/peter-ricchiuti">Peter Ricchiuti </a>conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch. Each week Peter invites guests from the New Orleans business world to join him, sometimes for fine dining others for pizza. From CEO's to startups, managers, musicians, biomed needle-movers, Silicon Bayou success stories and entrepreneurs of all stripes put aside the elevator pitch and the talking points and actually enjoy themselves. It's business, New Orleans style. You can also hear the show on <a href="https://www.wwno.org/show/out-to-lunch">WWNO 89.9FM</a>.

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