The NFL is moving Monday's playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams to Glendale, Arizona, due to fires ravaging Southern California.
“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 reads. of the league.
'The decision was made in consultation with public officials, participating clubs and the NFLPA.
The game will be televised on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes at the scheduled time of 8:00 pm EST.
'Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. PT Friday morning via Seatgeek.com for Rams season ticket members and at noon PT for the general public. More information on ticket sales will be provided as soon as possible.'
Inglewood's SoFi Stadium has been consumed by an ominous yellow haze amid wildfires that have claimed five lives so far. Even the team's practice facility in Woodland Hills seemed shocked as smoke from the Palisades fire could be seen billowing overhead.
The NFL is moving Monday's playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams to Glendale, Arizona, due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging Southern California.
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams lines up before snap during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium on October 24.
Smoke from a wildfire rises over the Los Angeles Rams NFL football practice facility
NFL fans have criticized the decision to choose State Farm Stadium, due to the sponsor's refusal to accept new California home insurance applications. Last year, the company revealed it would stop covering 72,000 homes in California in an attempt to avoid “financial failure.”
“Imagine you live in Los Angeles, you're a Rams fan and you lost your house in a fire for which State Farm revoked your coverage, and now you have to watch your team play this weekend at State Farm Stadium,” he wrote a fan on social networks.
'The NFL says the Vikings-Rams game would be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ if necessary.
“The same State Farm that sponsors a football stadium but canceled insurance policies right before the fire,” said another.
A third added: 'State Farm Stadium.' The same State Farm that pulled out of California and screwed policyholders who were directly affected by the fires? For the love of God, @NFL, read the room.'
According to the New York TimesMany homeowners in the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood cannot find (or keep) coverage.
Multiple fires have caused devastation throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area in recent days.
The game could still be moved to State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
Last summer, 70 percent of State Farm customers in the neighborhood (about 1,600 homeowners) reportedly lost their insurance.
Fires have been raging in the area since Tuesday and, by Thursday, had spread to surrounding suburbs after a wind storm blew embers and debris in all directions.
The death toll has reached five, and firefighters are still battling hellish conditions in an attempt to stop the devastation.
Many residents will rely on their fire insurance to repair damage caused by the fire, which is on track to be the most destructive in history.
It is estimated that the final bill could reach $60 billion, and experts say the damage caused by the deadly fires could become the costliest in US history.
DailyMail.com has contacted the NFL for comment.
A State Farm spokesperson told DailyMail.com: “Our number one priority right now is the safety of our customers, agents and employees affected by the fires and helping our customers in the midst of this tragedy.”