ATLANTA — Fans in town for the big college football playoff championship game said they noticed a significant police presence. Many of them said they appreciated the ramped up security.
Channel 2′s Tom Jones visited fans tailgating in a lot just off Northside Drive. They said the city has opened its arms to them, and they’ve noticed all the officers in the area.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“Every place we’ve gone, they’ve been great,” fan Dana Raric said.
Notre Dame fan Bill Chandler was tailgating too. He said safety was the least of his concerns.
“At the end of the day we feel very safe out here. We’ve got everything set up here. No safety concerns whatsoever.”
Police said they’ve called in every officer on the force to keep people safe with so many people in town for the big championship game and other events.
“We will have hundreds of officers just in the downtown space,” Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said last week.
TRENDING STORIES:
- College Football Playoff: Ohio State gets first national title in 10 years
- Ohio State QB Will Howard sets new CFP title game standard with sizzling start against Notre Dame
- College Football Playoff: Get a closer look at the national championship trophy
Jones saw police everywhere. In cars, on foot and on motorcycles. He also saw concrete barriers and large dump trucks around Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After the terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people while fans for the Sugar Bowl were in town, police aren’t taking any chances.
Some fans arrived here thinking about the attack.
“It definitely crossed my mind. Considering what happened in New Orleans. But I think they’re taking precautionary measures” fan Jenna Aurelius said.
She and her mother and said they’ve felt safe walking around, enjoying Atlanta.
“Totally walking around all last night,” Kisha Aurelius said.
And it’s not just Atlanta Police protecting the public. It’s regional, state and federal officers helping out. Police are also asking people if you see something say something.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2025 Cox Media Group
