On Monday night at 8 p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. However, the wildfires raging in the area could cause the game to be relocated.
NFL Monitoring Los Angeles Wildfires That Could Impact Vikings-Rams Game
As the wildfire continues to spread, Santa Monica and Los Angeles are at risk. According to the Los Angeles Times, this is one of the most destructive fires in the region’s history, as it has burned more than 5,000 acres and 1,000 structures and tragically caused two deaths.
The NFL released the following statement regarding Monday’s Rams-Vikings game and whether it will be played as scheduled:
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires.
We continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium. As with all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed.
“In this instance, the game would be played on Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, if necessary. We will continue to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with public officials, both clubs and the NFLPA.”
This wouldn’t be the first time that the NFL had to relocate a game due to wildfires.
Back in October 2003, the NFL moved a Monday Night Football game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins from Qualcomm Stadium in California to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ. At the time, three factors reportedly contributed to the NFL’s decision to relocate the game:
- Qualcomm Stadium’s parking lot was being used as an evacuation center
- Poor air quality because of the smoke
- Police were stretched thin, so providing game security would be an issue
“Clearly the priority in San Diego is on health and public safety, not playing football, and we certainly understand that,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said at the time that Chargers-Dolphins was relocated.
Similar factors will likely impact the Monday playoff game between the Rams and Vikings, likely causing the NFL to seriously consider moving the contest.
The fact that this is a playoff game complicates matters, as postponing the game would throw off the postseason schedule. This was already slated to be the final game of Wild Card Weekend and pushing it back any further would impact the Divisional Round schedule.
Similar to the last time this happened, the NFL revealed that the game will played in Arizona if it needs to be relocated. This makes sense as a backup plan for the game simply because of the close distance between the two stadiums.
It remains to be seen if the NFL will relocate the Rams-Vikings game, but it certainly seems possible and it’s a situation worth monitoring in the coming days.