(The Center Square) – The National Football League moved Monday night’s wildcard game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
“The [NFL] has announced that due to the ongoing wildfires in southern California, Monday night’s Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams will be played in Arizona,” the Vikings tweeted on Thursday.
The decision comes as the plan was to keep the game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and ticket sales will kick off on Friday.
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires,” the NFL said in a statement before the choice was made to move the game.
The decision comes as Los Angeles County continues to be devastated by numerous wildfires burning through the area, including through residential areas in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The fires have destroyed thousands of structures and at least 10 people have died. Even in communities not directly impacted by the fire, there is still a large risk with ongoing Santa Ana Winds and poor air quality in some areas.
Arizona continues to play a role in the fires beyond the game. The Center Square reported Thursday that the Arizona Department for Forestry and Fire Management sent eight woodland fire engines and two crews.
“Two DFFM crews were deployed to Southern California in advance of the fire,” Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Gov. Katie Hobbs, told The Center Square at the time. “We’re continuing to monitor the situation and coordinating with California to see if there is other support or additional needs.”