Sex Workers Detail What Working Super Bowl LIII Was Like

Football players and media members aren’t the only types of workers who have to step up their games during Super Bowl week.

Nope, as it turns out, the week before (and weekend of) the biggest game in America is also a very busy time for sex workers. Or at least it usually is.

In Atlanta, for Super Bowl LIII, that wasn’t the case, according to a number of conversations Deadspin had with sex workers who were in town for the game.

A big reason for the slow down in work was the fallout from an FBI sting that was conducted leading up to Super Bowl LIII. Following the sting, the FBI announced it arrested 169 people during its Super Bowl sting.

After hearing about the sting, sex workers and prospective johns were both more careful about the possibility of getting caught, leading to a downtick in business.

While workers who were based in Atlanta still were comfortable taking customers they were comfortable with, sex workers who had traveled to the city specifically for the game found raising business was difficult.

And there were some who decided the risk of arrest wasn’t worth it and stopped taking new clients. “I have an increase in the number of people contacting me, but I have made the decision to stick with people I have seen before,” a worker named Lisa said. “I am not accepting new clients through Super Bowl weekend just because I… expect the Atlanta PD will be doing stings.”

Others stepped up their screening processes in order to avoid getting busted.

“Screening is required and w all the stings going on due to the Super Bowl men in ATL be cautious of the companions NOT requiring screening!” a worker named Seductive Storm wrote on Twitter. “Wanting the quickest way to an appointment can lead to your arrest. Screen and then enjoy!”