Superbowl XLVII Blackout Gives New Orleans Black Eye
New Orleans’ triumphant return to Superbowl hosting was marred by a 34-minute blackout this past Sunday (while I was sitting in front of freevideopokerlist.com to check the latest games, suddenly it all went black!). The blackout, which affected about half of the Superdome’s lights, brought game play to a halt and interrupted the Baltimore Ravens’ momentum just as they had secured a 28-6 lead over the 49ers. When the lights came back on, the 49ers grabbed control of the game, scored two touchdowns, and very nearly ran away with the game. The Ravens barely hung on to their lead to pull out a 34-31 win.
This was the first Superbowl held in New Orleans since Katrina, and many city officials had hoped it would be an opportunity to showcase the new and improved Big Easy, including a Superdome freshly refurbished to the tune of $336 million.
Though the investigation is not yet complete, experts are now pointing to the point where electric provider Entergy’s lines feed into the Superdome’s power grid. Shifting the blame from the Superdome to the city of New Orleans may make sports fans feel better, but how will it affect New Orleans’ future chances of hosting another Superbowl?
As of today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is saying that the blackout will not be a factor in making future game day location decisions. What matters most is the fact that Superdome staff handled the situation well and no one panicked. New Orleans is still expected to be a contender for the 2018 Superbowl, which it hopes to host in conjunction with the city’s 300th anniversary. Thank goodness the Ravens pulled out the win, or the commissioner might be singing a different tune!…
