CES 2018: Blackout at tech's biggest show

Much of the Las Vegas Convention Center lost power on Wednesday morning in the middle of CES 2018, the massive annual gathering of technology companies. The cause of the outage was unknown and lasted about two hours.

The event is spread across multiple locations around Las Vegas, but the 3.2 million square foot convention center hosts the main attraction. The show floor is a maze of power-hungry gadget and technology demos. There are giant walls of OLED TVs, a virtual reality ride, and internet-connected smart fridges that still can't keep food from spoiling without electricity.

Without power, most companies were unable to show off their products. There was enough light from windows and battery powered signs to safely walk around. "Despacito" could still be heard blaring from an unknown booth. There was power in the show lobby.

"We are working hard to restore this temporary power outage at the LVCC. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience," said the Consumer Technology Association, the group that organizes the show, in a statement.

Wiltronic Corp., a computers and smart home device maker, did demos in the dark, thanks to charged laptops and tablets.

"The guys with battery operated equipment are having a field day," said Max Lammers, lead developer for VR-accessory company Sense Glove. "A lot of people are not going to be happy."

Companies such as Intel and Sony -- perhaps bored without an audience -- took to Twitter to crack a few jokes. Even Oreo joined in. The hashtag #CESBlackout was born.

Introducing Blackout™: The biggest thing to hit #CES2018 since #5G. #CESblackout pic.twitter.com/xObxxxHvQe

— Intel (@intel) January 10, 2018

While most booths saw their foot traffic disappear, one area was still drawing a crowd. Attendees gathered around magician Al James and used their flashlights to watch him do tricks. James has been attending CES for 30 years, and was there to promote Sekure Controls, an anti-shoplifting tech company.

"How the hell do you lose electricity at an electronics show?" said James.

Additional reporting by Jack Regan, Lisa Fischer and Ramy Zabarah