The NFL on Thursday announced that, in the importance of public safeness, the Minnesota Vikings-Los Angeles Rams wild-card game on Monday night has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The change of venue comes as Southern California is dealing with multiple wildfires.
“In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL announced today,” the statement read, in part.
“The decision was made in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA.”
With the game’s venue being changed, its 8 p.m. ET start time will remain with ticket sales opening Friday.
Starting late Tuesday morning with a fire in Pacific Palisades, California, myriad wind-fueled blazes engulfed the greater Los Angeles area. The Eaton Fire (Altadena/Pasadena) and Hurst Fire (Sylmar) followed the Palisades Fire, but others have popped up, one of the latest igniting Thursday in the West Hills neighborhood, which isn’t far from the Rams’ Woodland Hills practice facility.
Following the Rams’ practice on Thursday, the team canceled open locker room availability, NFL Network’s Bridget Condon reported, so players could get home quicker as evacuation orders had begun in the area.
Across the Southland, five deaths have been reported, but officials say the toll is likely to be higher, while more than 5,000 structures have been burned, according to the L.A. Times, and more than 130,000 residents have been placed under evacuation orders, per the Associated Press.
Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed the media before Thursday’s practice — and prior to the West Hills fire, called the Kenneth Fire.
“Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with everybody that’s been affected by these fires,” McVay said at the time. “It’s one of those deals that almost doesn’t feel real, but it certainly is real to the people that are affected. Praying that as many people are OK, and you just see the amount of people that are affected and it’s one of those deals that it gives you perspective.”