Concerned the Superdome might not be able to handle the energy needed for its first Super Bowl since Hurricane Katrina, officials spent more than $600,000 on upgrades to decayed utility lines, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The improvements apparently weren't enough, however, to prevent an embarrassing 34-minute power outage during the third quarter of the game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.Two days later, officials still had not pinpointed the cause of the outage. The Superdome's management company, SMG, and the utility that supplies the stadium, Entergy New Orleans, announced Tuesday that they would hire outside experts to investigate.Documents obtained Monday through a records request by The Associated Press show that Superdome officials worried months ago about losing power during the NFL championship.Tests on the electrical feeders that connect incoming power from utility lines to the stadium showed decay and "a chance of failure," state officials warned in a memo dated Oct. 15.BrieflyCowboys: Wes Phillips, the son of former Dallas coach Wade Phillips, was hired as tight ends coach, and Frank Pollack was hired as assistant offensive line coach. The hiring of Pollack, previously a line coach with the Texans and Raiders, is presumably part of an effort to free up offensive line coach Bill Callahan for play-calling duties.Giants: LB Michael Boley was released.Ravens: An estimated 200,000 people took part Tuesday in Baltimore's celebration of the Ravens' Super Bowl victory.Rams: WR Titus Young, released by the Lions on Monday, was claimed by St. Louis.Lions: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and G Stephen Peterman were released.
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