Super Bowl XLVII will be known for many things but overshadowing everything will be that ridiculous 35-minute blackout that plunged half the Superdome into darkness.  Usually the NFL runs a tight ship, especially during the biggest game of the year. Why then, did the lights go out — and stay out — on the Super Bowl?

Entergy and SMG (the company that manages the Superdome) said it was an “abnormality in the system”  but the internet rumor mill has other ideas…

8. A 49ers Fan Did It

Until yesterday the 49ers had never lost a Super Bowl, and football junkies clearly had them heavily favored again. And yet, by the time the lights went out the Ravens were ahead 28-6 and they had just completed a jaw-dropping 108-yard touchdown return.  Some think that a diehard 49ers fan tripped a breaker in order to stop the Ravens’ momentum on the field.  The fact of the matter is, the 49ers did do much better after the lights came back on and ended the game a field goal short of victory.

7. The Republicans Did It

Until last night, the Superdome was best known for its association with Hurricane Katrina: three people died in the aftermath of the disaster because the evacuation center was in poor condition and lacking necessary supplies.  It became a symbol for the Bush administration’s failure to save New Orleans… and the rest of America.  So what better revenge than to flip the power switch on the dome during Obama’s watch?

6. Viral Marketing Scheme(s)

Next month, NBC’s new show, Revolution, will begin its second season. The premise of the show – living in the world without electricity.  Could the blackout have been one big viral marketing scheme?  Lending credence to the theory is a tweet from the show’s official Twitter account: “Just a taste of what’s to come on March 25. #LightsOut #Revolution.”  Other contenders for marketing conspiracies: the new movie Star Trek Into Darkness, Oreo (“you can still dunk in the dark”), and Tide (“we can’t get your #blackout, but we can get your stains out. #SuperBowl #TidePower”). None of these companies have commented on their marketing efforts during the Super Bowl, although it’s safe to assume they were trying to tie the products to what was happening in the game, not the reverse.

5. The Heist of the Century

Think Ocean’s Eleven meets The Great Train Robbery.  While the Superdome personnel are running around, trying to restore power, and fans and commentators are distracted by the darkness, a group of clever thieves make off with the entire box office revenue. Since there have yet to be any reports of a major theft at the Superdome, we don’t think this one is very likely.

4. Beyonce Did It

The star power of Beyonce and the reunited Destiny’s Child combined with the electrical power needed to light up her booty-shaking dance moves was just too much for the Superdome.  In homage to the diva’s powers, the lights went out.

3. Anti-Gay Hate Groups Did It

What better way to express one’s hatred of homosexuals than by pulling the plug on one of the gay community’s favorite performers? But, if true, then the bigots suffering from poor timing – the lights went out after the halftime show.

2. Bane Did It

Remember that really cool scene in The Dark Night Rises when the football field collapses and Bane strides out into the stadium to announce his diabolical plan for a New World Order?  Last night’s blackout was sort of a like a low-budget remake of that scene. Did a Bane imitator carry out Step One but not Step Two of his copycat ploy?

1. The Superdome Is Haunted

For starters, the Superdome has seen lots of death and unhappiness – the perfect astral mix for a haunting.  Not to the mention that the Big Easy is known of its connection to the dark arts.  Some say the blackout was caused by voodoo magic while others think that the city’s famous vampires just wanted to enjoy the game.

UPDATE: There’s another conspiracy theory in the works.

9. The Chinese Did It
After The New York Times revealed that the Chinese government had hacked into their computer system, American has been on cyber-alert.  But apparently they were not vigilant enough.  Rumor has it that the “abnormality” in the Superdome’s electrical system came from a computer glitch caused by – you guessed it – Chinese hackers.

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Conspiracy Theories About the Super Bowl

Image: Infrogmation