In an unusual decision, the NFL has moved a playoff game for only the second time in its 105 years due to severe wildfires affecting the Los Angeles area, prioritizing safety to conclude the wild-card weekend.

The Rams will not have a traditional home advantage when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, as the game has been shifted from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Arizona.

The NFL has often had to adapt to natural disasters, rescheduling games due to weather events like hurricanes and snowstorms. However, changes of location during playoff games are rare.

Here’s a look at the history of venue changes for NFL playoff games:

Have NFL playoff games been moved before?

Moving the Rams-Vikings matchup is only the second time in NFL history that a playoff game has been relocated. While this shift is due to safety concerns, the first switch in 1936 had a different reason.

The 1936 NFL championship, contested between the Boston team (now known as the Washington Commanders) and the Green Bay Packers, was the inaugural game held at a neutral site, which is common today but was not as prevalent then. This championship took place on the home field of one team.

That particular game was moved from Boston’s Fenway Park to New York’s Polo Grounds due to low ticket sales. Boston’s owner, George Preston Marshall, opted for the move after realizing the lack of fan engagement, and the following year, he relocated the team to Washington, D.C.

The Packers ultimately triumphed with a score of 21-6, claiming their fourth NFL championship and their first title in the playoff format.

Why was the Vikings-Rams game relocated?

The relocation of the Vikings vs. Rams playoff game was based on safety due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles region.

“In light of public safety concerns, the NFL announced today that Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game will be played at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, instead of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA,” the league stated. “This decision was made after discussions with public officials, the teams involved, and the NFL Players Association.”

With at least five wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate, safety was the top priority as flames devastated homes and businesses.

Considering the poor air quality and the dangers affecting the community, moving the game was a clear choice.

Sports events have recently taken a backseat to the serious issues posed by the wildfires, leading to the postponement of games in the NBA and NHL. Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick has suffered personal losses as he lost his home, while other teams like the Lakers and NHL’s Kings have had to adjust their schedules in the aftermath of these events.

Rams head coach Sean McVay shared that some team personnel have been directly impacted by the fires.

Now, the team must regroup to prepare for their playoff challenge starting Monday night.

Where will the Vikings vs. Rams game take place?

The game between the Vikings and the Rams has been relocated from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This venue has hosted several Super Bowls, with the most recent taking place in 2023, and it is home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.