Superdome commission eyes change to power system

The panel that runs Louisiana's Superdome has approved spending up to $100,000 for a study of possible enhancements of the stadium's emergency power systems.

Dome manager Doug Thornton says emergency systems worked well during the Super Bowl — when a problem traced to a utility company's equipment caused a partial power outage and suspension of the NFL game for 34 minutes. But, he said, the current backup generator system was designed to maintain power when the dome is being evacuated.

Thornton said during Wednesday's meeting of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District that the improvements he envisions wouldn't avoid a game interruption. But they could ensure operation of air conditioning, escalators and other systems to increase comfort and safety during a temporary outage when fans remain in the building.