The Minnesota Vikings’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams is still scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in California, but a contingency plan is in place due to several ongoing wildfires around Los Angeles.
If the contingency plan is to be implemented, Monday night’s game will be played on the Arizona Cardinals’ home field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
There are at least five wildfires raging in Los Angeles, fueled by strong winds of up to 100 mph, leaving five people dead and 130,000 people ordered to evacuate their homes.
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community,” an NFL statement said.
“We are grateful for the tireless efforts of first responders. Our hearts go out to Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires.
“We continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium. As with all games, there are contingency plans in place in case a change of venue is necessary. In this case, the game would be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, if necessary.
“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the region and remain in contact with public authorities, both the clubs and the NFLPA.”
The Rams and Los Angeles Chargers practice in areas that are not exposed to wildfires, but both teams are monitoring air quality and the potential impact on their practices.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players’ time away on the El Segundo coast, while the Rams don’t return to practice until Thursday.
The Chargers are on the road Saturday against the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Chargers announced the organization would provide targeted funding of $200,000 (£162,840) to help those affected by the fires.
