SI

Timberwolves stage Superdome-style blackout at Target Center

By Ben Golliver The Timberwolves staged a fake blackout at the Target Center one day after Super XLVII in New Orleans was delayed by a power outage at the
Ben Golliver|

By Ben Golliver

The Timberwolves staged a fake blackout at the Target Center one day after Super XLVII in New Orleans was delayed by a power outage at the Superdome.

In between the first and second quarters of a game against the Blazers on Monday, the Target Center's lights briefly cut out, only to be restored in short order so that play could resume.

On Sunday, half of the Superdome's lights to go out during the third quarter, causing a 35-minute delay.  

After the game had ended, Entergy and SMG (the Superdome’s management company) issued a joint statement explaining that “a piece of equipment that is designed to monitor electrical load sensed an abnormality in the system. Once the issue was detected, the sensing equipment operated as designed and opened a breaker, causing power to be partially cut to the Superdome in order to isolate the issue. Backup generators kicked in immediately as designed. Entergy and SMG subsequently coordinated start-up procedures, ensuring that full power was safely restored to the Superdome.”

The Ravens, who were leading 28-6 at the time of the blackout, held on to beat the 49ers 34-31 to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Reporters at the Target Center were not fooled.

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Ben Golliver
BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.

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