Caesars Superdome Makes Sure Power Is Not An Issue For 2025 Super Bowl

Anyone who watches sports, particularly the NFL and the Super Bowl, remembers what happened in 2013 when the Superdome lost power shortly after halftime of the 49ers-Ravens game. San Francisco 49ers fans to this day will tell you that’s why their team lost!  

But what happened? And what have the folks in charge done to make sure the venue is safe and ready to host another Super Bowl this February?

Human error was blamed for the outage in 2013. An electrical relay device that opens and closes circuits sensed an abnormality in the electrical flow. The sensing equipment operated as programed and opened a breaker causing the power to be partially cut to isolate the issue, according to a statement from Entergy New Orleans and the Superdome operator.


Why did they eventually land on human error? Well, if higher settings were applied to the unit when it was installed, the equipment would not have disconnected from the power source, according to an executive at the equipment manufacturer.

So that brings us back to the question of this year’s Super Bowl and what have they done to avoid another fiasco with 70,000+ in attendance and another 123.4M litterally sitting in the dark, during the big game? For starters, the Superdome team improved the electrical system, but they also invested in more reliable standby power with industrial generators.

As part of a $535 million, five-year renovation, the Superdome tasked All Star Electric of Metairie, Louisiana, to upgrade the venue’s electrical system. The upgrade included four Caterpillar C18 standby diesel generator sets, which provide backup power for the building’s essential life safety equipment, including lighting, HVAC systems and fire alarms.

“The standby system is mainly for emergency egress, to evacuate patrons who are here to see a Saints game, a concert or any event,” said Todd Desselles, vice president of operations for All Star Electric. “If there’s a loss of power, the standby generators are activated in order to help people safely exit the building.”

The Superdome has a dedicated electrical feed from the utility provider. While the utility power is reliable, there have been instances where utility power fails.

“You have to have these systems in place in case power does happen to fail,” Desselles said. “And things do fail, as we’ve seen in the past.”

Power outages not only cost companies money and reputation, but safety is a key component. People remember when things go wrong, so having reliable standby power is the key to a business or venue such as the Caesars Superdome. Keeping the public safe is paramount, lost revenue is secondary but a massive factor as well.  

Generator Source not only supplies standby generators to combat emergency power outages, but our team also services and maintains units at large stadiums like this. Our teams have played vitals roles for championships teams and have given operators peace of mind as electrical grids become more and more unreliable.


Our technicians have decades of experience with all the top brands including Caterpillar, Cummins, Generac, Kohler, MTU, Mutilquip, Katolight, Hipower, and Gillette just to name a few. Learn more about our power solutions by clicking on each option: buying, selling, servicing and renting. Call (866) 518-1240 nationwide or reach out by region:

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Story Summary

During Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, the Superdome experienced a partial power outage shortly after halftime. The blackout lasted for 34 minutes, affecting various stadium functions and temporarily halting the game.   Human error was cited because the relay device's factory settings were too low. If higher settings had been applied during installation, the equipment would not have disconnected from the power source. The Superdome has undergone a $535 million, five-year renovation, which included upgrading the venue's electrical system. Key improvements include: The primary purpose of the standby system is to ensure emergency egress, allowing for safe evacuation of patrons in case of a power loss during events. The Superdome has a dedicated electrical feed from the utility provider. In case of utility power failure, the standby generators activate to maintain essential functions and ensure public safety. Reliable standby power is crucial for: Many large stadiums are investing in robust standby power solutions and regular maintenance to prevent outages and ensure public safety. Companies like Generator Source provide services for supplying, maintaining, and servicing generator units at large stadiums.
 

Brian La Rue | 12/23/2024 3:07:55 PM | 0 comments
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