NFL Playoff Game Between Vikings and Rams Moved to Arizona Due to Wildfires
The NFL announced on Thursday that the playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, originally scheduled to be played in Southern California, will now be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The decision was made in the interest of public safety, in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs, and the NFL Players Association.
This marks the third game in Los Angeles to be affected by the wildfires this week, with a Kings game and a Lakers game already postponed. The Rams had a scheduled off day on Wednesday, while the Los Angeles Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium with the Rams, limited players’ time outside during practice due to poor air quality.
The wildfires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, have devastated communities in the Los Angeles area, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, with at least 130,000 people under evacuation orders. At least five people have been killed and over 1,000 buildings have been destroyed.
State Farm Stadium has played a similar role in the past, hosting games due to wildfires in 2003 and during the COVID season in 2020. The game will still kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night.
