As of 8 p.m. CT Thursday, the power was still out in Cleveland, but plans for the Packers-Browns preseason game were still on.
It was just after 3 p.m. CT, less than 10 minutes after the Packers arrived at the team hotel, that a power outage, reportedly originating in the New York area, hit Cleveland along with much of the rest of the northeastern United States.
Power is expected to be restored by Friday morning, and the Packers' preseason game should proceed as scheduled, Packers officials said.
Although some team meetings were rescheduled, the situation at the team hotel was surprisingly normal.
"The guys are just kind of going with the flow," quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell said. "It's a calm situation and they're trying to make the most of it."
In the hours just after the power outage began, players passed the time playing card games and hanging out in the hotel lobby.
Bottles of water were made readily available and a team meal was served as planned.
"Most of the guys are handling it pretty well," fullback William Henderson said. "Guys are just talking and playing games, things we usually do when we're on the road anyway. This is just a little bit of extended free time."
Despite Thursday's unexpected events, the importance of the Packers' third preseason game is unchanged.
"We have a lot of things we want to get done in that game," Bevell said. "I'm just glad it's the preseason."
Henderson said players would be as focused as normal Friday, although he's glad it's just an exhibition.
"I can't imagine what it would be like game-time against one of the divisional opponents if something like this were to happen (in the regular season)."
Thursday's power outage is the second Ohio oddity to affect the Packers this preseason. Their first preseason game in Canton, August 4, was cancelled in the third quarter due to lighting.
