The NFL made a prompt decision regarding the upcoming game.

On Thursday evening, the league announced that, for “public safety reasons,” the wild-card game on Monday night between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings, originally set to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, would now occur in Arizona. This change comes in response to the ongoing wildfires affecting the greater Los Angeles region.

“This decision was made after discussions with local officials, the teams involved, and the NFL Players Association,” the league stated.

The game is scheduled to air at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes. Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. PT on Friday for Rams Season Ticket Members and at noon PT for the general public. Details on ticket sales will be shared soon.

Now, the game will happen at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

Earlier Thursday, the Rams had communicated to their supporters that they were still aiming to play at SoFi. However, ongoing safety concerns and logistical challenges in Southern California, particularly the emergence of a nearby fire close to their practice facility in Woodland Hills, resulted in the Rams sending players home earlier than usual.

Currently, at least five wildfires are active in Los Angeles County, devastating over 40 square miles, as reported by Cal Fire. Many residents in Los Angeles County have had to evacuate their homes.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford expressed the team’s commitment, saying, “Every time we gear up, we represent the Los Angeles Rams. We play for our community and supporters, and this week will showcase that.”

“We hope this game can provide a much-needed break for our fans who have faced difficult times recently.”

No NFL playoff game has ever been moved during the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966, until now. However, in the past, the league did move Super Bowl 27 from Arizona to another location when the state did not recognize Martin Luther King Day as a holiday in 1990. Eventually, that Super Bowl was played in Tempe, Arizona, in 1996.

This isn’t the first occasion the NFL has shifted a Monday night game away from Southern California due to wildfires; in 2003, a game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins was moved to Tempe. The relocated Chargers ended up losing 26-10.

The Chargers, who moved to LA in 2017, have also faced challenges ahead of their wild-card game on Saturday against the AFC South champion Texans in Houston, altering their practice plans due to air quality concerns.

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