NFL Finalizes Location for Vikings at Rams
The Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, exactly eight days after the tough defeat against the Detroit Lions that forced the franchise to be road warriors in the postseason. The matchup will take place, but the Los Angeles wildfires have caused the NFL to move the game to a different location.
NFL Finalizes Location for Vikings at Rams
On Wednesday, the NFL announced the alternate plan. If necessary, the game would be moved to Glendale, Arizona.
As the fires continue to destroy and threaten countless people’s homes, the league decided on Thursday to relocate the contest to Arizona’s State Farm Stadium.
The Vikings write on their website:
Monday night’s Wild Card game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams will be played in Arizona, the NFL announced Thursday.
The postseason contest initially was scheduled for SoFi Stadium, as the Rams won the NFC West division to earn home-field advantage for the first round. The decision to relocate was not taken lightly and is being made considering the Palisades Fires that have left chaos and destruction in their wake.
A high-power windstorm rapidly spread the fires that started Tuesday morning, engulfing more than 3,000 acres and 1,000 structures by Wednesday afternoon.
The fires did not reach SoFi Stadium or cause any damage in the immediate area, but thick, billowing smoke has resulted in dangerously low air quality.
Of course, football is not the main focus in the eye of a catastrophic tragedy.
The Associated Press writes about the crisis:
“The Palisades fire, near the coast, has burned about 26.9 square miles (69.8 square kilometers). The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned about 21.4 square miles (55.4 square kilometers). And the Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley has burned 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers). The Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills has burned less than a square mile.”
According to AP, nearly 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Thursday: “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. 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.”
State Farm Stadium has been a popular alternate location for the NFL in recent years. It is the fifth such occasion in the last 22 years.
The 49ers played three games in that stadium during the 2020 season as the pandemic prevented them from playing in their own home. The San Diego Chargers played a home game in Arizona due to wildfires in 2003.
In 2010, two Vikings home games were relocated after the Metrodome’s roof collapsed. One contest was played in Detroit, and the other at the University of Minnesota.
The Vikings entered the week as road favorites, and the news will give them another boost in the betting odds.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt