NFL moves Vikings/Rams playoff game to Arizona due to L.A. wildfires
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The NFL announced Thursday night that the Minnesota Vikings and L.A. Rams NFC Wild Card Playoff game set for Monday night has been moved to Arizona.
The game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals. That’s after wildfires in the L.A. area have killed at least five and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. The decision was made in the interest of public safety and consultation with public officials, the two teams and the NFL Players’ Association.
'We're going to play the game regardless where the plane lands'
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, a southern California native, offered his prayers to the L.A. wildfire victims ahead of next Monday's NFC Wild Card Playoff game at the Rams. If SoFi Stadium is deemed unsafe to play at, the game will be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Tickets will go on sale at noon Friday for Rams’ season-ticket holders. Tickets for the general public will go on sale at 2 p.m. Friday for Minnesota fans interested in flying down for the game. Arizona is a popular destination for Minnesotans to avoid the cold and snow that winter brings up north.
SoFi Stadium, the home of the L.A. Rams and Chargers, has not been directly impacted to this point. But thick smoke in the area is creating poor air quality.
It's the first playoff game to be moved since 1936, the NFL Championship between the Green Bay Packers and Boston. It was moved from Fenway Park to the Polo Grounds in Boston due to low ticket sales. In 2010, the Vikings had a home game against the New York Giants moved to Ford Field in Detroit after the Metrodome's roof collapsed the morning of the game due to heavy snow.
‘You feel helpless watching it from here’
What the Vikings are saying: Coach Kevin O’Connell, a southern California native and former Rams’ offensive coordinator, sent his thoughts those impacted by the wildfires at his Thursday news conference. He also talked about balancing that with the goal of winning a playoff game on the road.
"You feel helpless watching it from here and knowing how many people are impacted. Southern California I hold near and dear to my heart, I have some friends that have lost homes. Our prayers are with all those impacted," O’Connell said. "Monday night’s game, I know it’s going to be played, we’re going to play the football game regardless of where our plane lands."
Sam Darnold, Cam Bynum talk wildfires
What the players are saying: Two Vikings from California near where the fires are happening are quarterback Sam Darnold and safety Cam Bynum. Both reacted to the situation on Thursday after practice.
"I want to give my thoughts just for the people out in L.A. right now. Obviously being from the area, knowing a couple people who have been affected, my thoughts go out to those people that are struggling through that," Darnold said.
"Probably one of the worst I’ve seen just as far as the danger and the homes that are actually getting hit. It’s just so said seeing people I know and their houses burned down. It’s just sad," Bynum said.
Other postponements
What we know: Moving the game seemed inevitable after the L.A. Kings postponed their Wednesday night game due to the wildfires. The L.A. Lakers postpone their Thursday night game.
O’Connell said he’s talked with Rams’ coach Sean McVay, and has friends who have lost homes in the wildfires. The Rams canceled their player availability on Thursday after a new fire broke out near where several players and staff live.
"The impact that this has on people, and the worst aspect of it is the lives that have been lost. The people that lose a lifetime of memories and things in a home that they’ve built their families," O’Connell said. "There’s also a lot of people who have been evacuated that are trying to make sense of all this. There’s just so many people impacted. This one does feel different."