[oceanview]

but how soon after the explosion did the cell phones "godown". it sounds like congestion to me, people heard the noise and started calling out. for authorities to figure out what had happened, and call the telcos to turn their towers off - would have taken some time. unless the stadium/campus has a micro-cell that they could switch off quickly on their own.

[GummyIII]

Someone said on this thread that there had been a sweep of the stadium before the game. I don't know if that is true. However, if they suspected something might happen, then they would have been prepared to shut down transmission immediately.

[ArmstedFragg]

it sounds like congestion to me

That's my instinct too, both because of the way sites are located and because the alternative assumes a level of competence that's in short supply most places.

Sites are spec'd based on average population in the area, not on maximum density (unless the system has been fully built out and there's some extra money left over). Public safety folks have been using cell phones more and more frequently for their work. So, a bunch of people calling in, and a few cops calling out could be the reason. I'd guess that area's set up to handle the load from a bunch of students and faculty calling out at the end of class... maybe sixty, ninety, calls.