NFL says blackout won't hurt New Orleans in future Super Bowl bids

A blackout at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome during Super Bowl XLVII caused a 34-minute delay. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says that the blackout that caused a 34-minute blackout during last night's Super Bowl won't reflect on the city of New Orleans hosting future Super Bowls, reports ESPN.com.

The blackout happened in the third quarter of the Baltimore Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. New Orleans' was hosting their first Super Bowl since 2002.

Goodell said there were alternatives if the blackout had continued and that there was a backup system that was prepared to get rebooted when the lights were restored.

"I fully expect that we will be back here for Super Bowls," he said. "And I hope we will be back. We want to be back. We knew they have an interest in future Super Bowls, and we look forward to evaluating that. Going forward, I don't think this will have any impact at all on what I think will be remembered for one of the greatest Super Bowl weeks."