Raising Cane’s Founder Todd Graves Honored as Super Bowl Parade King

Raising Cane’s owner and founder Todd Graves took the honored position aboard the Krewe of Bacchus King’s Float before Super Bowl.

Along with friends including Sports Illustrated model Camille Kostek, famous chef Emeril Lagasse, designer Jeff Hamilton and broadcaster Kaylee Hartung, he kicked off the Super Bowl LIX Parade in epic Big Easy style.

Graves, who was named the first-ever Super Bowl Parade King by the New Orleans Host Committee, was on aboard the float where 30,000 throws and 50,000 doubloons, which were thrown to excited fans lined up and down the parade path.

“It’s an honor to represent New Orleans and Louisiana and be an example of what you can achieve in this state. New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the world and it’s exciting to have the chance to show everyone what we’re all about,” said Graves. “Not only is Louisiana a great place to have fun and enjoy great music and food but, it’s also a great place to do business. I founded and built Raising Cane’s right here in Louisiana and am proof that you can achieve the American Dream here. So, whether you’re looking to host a conference or start a business, we’re open and ready for you.”

Upon approaching Gallier Hall, Graves addressed the paradegoers, Governor Jeff Landry and fans tuning in across the country as he toasted with a glass of champagne, which is a New Orleans tradition for Parade King.

As thousands upon thousands of tourists have descended upon the Crescent City, they experienced a parade in true New Orleans fashion that is bigger, bolder and better than anything embarked on before, highlighting the unique charm and culture of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. New Orleans and the surrounding area are expected to see $500M in economic impact as a result of hosting the Big Game.

Despite this being New Orleans’s 11th time to host the Super Bowl, it is their first time hosting a parade of this kind and magnitude taking place in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The parade, attended by thousands in-person and watched by millions LIVE through streaming partners WDSU-TV and the NFL Network, is a celebration of New Orleans hosting its record-tying 11th Super Bowl, featuring Super Bowl-themed floats from NFL partners designed and produced by Kern Studios.

Also in attendance on the leading float was Barry Kern, the legendary face of the family-owned and Louisiana-famous Kern Studios. Kern is the CEO and President of Kern Studios and Mardi Gras World and has taken Kern Studios from a local Mardi Gras float building company to one of the world’s premier entertainment production and specialty fabrication companies. The Kerns and their expert crew designed and produced many of the floats participating in the first-of-its-kind parade, including the Bacchus float ridden by none other than Grand Marshal, Todd Graves.

No stranger to Mardi Gras, parades, and the rich culture of the state, the Host Committee selected native Louisianan and businessman Graves as the King of the Parade. While Louisiana is known for its food, culture, music, and fun, it’s also an incredible place to build and grow a business, as evidenced by Graves, whose brand achieved $5B in sales in 2024 and operates more than 900 Restaurants. After opening doors to Raising Cane’s first Restaurant in 1996 across from the North Gates at LSU to becoming one of the fastest-growing Restaurant brands in the world, Graves’s success story begins and ends with Louisiana.

“I’m so honored to serve as the Parade King for our first-ever Super Bowl Host Committee Parade. I have so much respect for the people and businesses in this state, and the fact that I was chosen to represent the kind of business and life you can build here in Louisiana means everything to me. I began building my business here at the age of 24 and want to show people that Louisiana is a fantastic state for business, hosting events, and so much more,” said Graves. “This parade showcases everything there is to love about Louisiana and I’m looking forward to seeing people share the uniqueness of it all on social and get others excited about our great state. We have a culture that is one of the most unique in the world and we’re here to show everyone what we’re about and have a great time doing it!”

Set to welcome more than 100,000 fans for the Super Bowl and its accompanying events, Super Bowl LIX marks New Orleans’s eleventh time to host the event. Fans will travel from far and wide to get in on the action and excitement of the weekend and experience the Super Bowl in a way only Louisiana can.

Graves is continuing to champion the rich culture of his beloved city by taking part in the massive art investments displayed throughout New Orleans in preparation for the Super Bowl. The thousands of tourists descending upon the Crescent City will have a feast for their eyes as influential New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne debuts his first mural in over a decade in the French Quarter at 909 Poydras St. with the help of Graves.

A short stroll from the Superdome, Osborne’s vibrant mural captures a crew of revelers wrapping up a long lunch and second-lining their way onto an uptown streetcar, letting the good times roll, New Orleans style. The piece is inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” which reimagines the life of prominent New Orleans chef Leah Chase. The new mural will brighten the city for the next 8 to 10 years as a love letter to New Orleans’ vibrant culture. Osborne partnered with Raising Cane’s to make this huge undertaking a reality following a successful Mardi Gras collaboration last year.