A piece of Evansville history is making waves in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX. The former Casino Aztar riverboat, once a fixture on the Ohio River, has been given a bold new look as it joins the city’s high-energy celebrations leading up to the big game.
From Casino to Jazz Club to Super Bowl Attraction
Casino Aztar first set sail in Evansville back in 1995, offering entertainment and gaming on the river for over two decades. In 2017, it docked for good as a casino, finding a second life in New Orleans as ‘Riverboat Louis Armstrong’—a jazz club cruising the Mississippi River.
But for Super Bowl weekend, the boat has traded its musical roots for something much cheesier. Instead of blackjack tables or brass bands, it now features an enormous transformation into Chester Cheetah, the playful and mischievous mascot of Frito-Lay’s Cheetos and Chester’s Snacks.
“Cheese of the Seas” Sets Sail for the Super Bowl
Frito-Lay’s parent company, PepsiCo, is behind the creative rebranding of the boat. They’ve dubbed it the “Cheese of the Seas,” a floating tribute to their popular cheese-flavored snack. The eye-catching makeover ensures the vessel is hard to miss, whether viewed from the shore or by Super Bowl attendees moving through the city.
For a limited time, the boat is no longer about jazz, gambling, or river cruises—it’s a larger-than-life promotional display, drawing attention from football fans and snack lovers alike.
Visibility and Fan Experience
With thousands of people flocking to New Orleans for the game, the boat’s new identity guarantees plenty of exposure. Positioned along the Mississippi, it provides a quirky and memorable sight for locals and visitors enjoying the festivities.
- The boat’s design prominently features Chester Cheetah’s signature orange-and-black color scheme.
- Visitors can spot the boat through Sunday’s Super Bowl, making it one of the city’s most unique attractions for the weekend.
- PepsiCo has not disclosed whether any special events or promotions will take place onboard, but the visual impact alone is already generating buzz.
A Riverboat’s Unexpected Journey
The transformation of this Evansville relic highlights how old venues can find fresh purposes, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. What was once a riverboat casino, then a jazz club, is now a floating marketing spectacle for one of America’s most recognizable snack brands.
While the future of the “Cheese of the Seas” post-Super Bowl remains uncertain, for now, it stands as a testament to both nostalgia and reinvention. And for those in New Orleans this weekend, it’s one more reason to keep their eyes on the river, not just the game.
