In response to the destructive wildfires in Southern California this week, the NFL has decided to relocate a playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings to the state of Arizona.
The National Football League (NFL) declared their action on Thursday night, stating that they took this step “for the sake of public safety” and “after discussing it with local authorities, involved teams, and the NFL Players Association.”
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The NFL revealed its decision last Thursday, explaining that they acted “to ensure public safety” and “in consultation with city officials, participating clubs, and the National Football League Players Association.
Beyond damaging properties, these fires also produce a thick smoke cloud over Los Angeles, potentially harming the city’s air quality. It remains unclear exactly which public safety concerns led to the relocation of the game.
Originally scheduled to play the Vikings at their own SoFi Stadium in Inglewood during the wild-card playoff game on Monday evening, the Rams, who won the NFC West division in the regular season, will now face them at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona – the typical home ground of the Arizona Cardinals.
The match is set to begin at 8 PM Eastern Time, airing on both ABC and ESPN. Tickets will first become available for Rams season ticket holders at 10 AM Pacific Time on Friday morning, followed by sales to the general public at noon.
On Wednesdays, the NFL announced they were keeping an eye on the current situation and readying themselves for the match to proceed in Los Angeles. However, they also have backup plans if a shift in venue becomes necessary.
In certain instances throughout its history, the league has shifted some matches to impartial locations. After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the New Orleans Saints played the majority of their home games either in San Antonio, Texas, or Baton Rouge, Louisiana, due to the disaster’s aftermath. Similarly, a regular season game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins was relocated to Arizona in 2003 because of nearby fires.
The Los Angeles-based Chargers will be playing in the wild-card round too, but they’ll be traveling to Houston for their matchup with the Texans this coming Saturday.
Alongside the shift in the NFL schedule, both the National Hockey League and the NBA have decided to delay games. Specifically, the NHL has pushed back a Wednesday contest between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames, while the NBA has postponed a Thursday home game for the L.A. Lakers against the Charlotte Hornets.
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2025-01-10 04:25