Vikings-Rams moved to Arizona due to wildfires

Monday night’s wild-card game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams has been moved from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Arizona because of the wildfires around Los Angeles, the league announced Thursday.

The game will still kick off at its scheduled 8 p.m. ET time.

The league’s decision was made in consultation with public officials, the teams, and the players’ union. Moving the game to Arizona was initially announced Wednesday as a contingency plan.

Smoke from the wildfire was visible from the team’s facility during practice. The Rams also canceled media availability for their players Thursday to allow them to get home after another fire broke out in the Calabasas/Hidden Hills area, according to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody that’s been affected by these fires,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said Thursday.

Monday night’s playoff bout won’t be the first time a game has been relocated to the Cardinals’ home territory: A 2003 Monday Night Football matchup between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers was moved to Arizona because of wildfires in San Diego, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. In 2020, State Farm Stadium also hosted three of the San Francisco 49ers’ home contests as well as their practices due to COVID-19.

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