In the straightforward spirit of facts and actions, it's time to redraw the playbooks – wildfires in Southern California have forced the scheduled NFC Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams out of SoFi Stadium, relocating the teams to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The National Football League confirmed this strategic shift yesterday, with kickoff slated for Monday at 6 p.m., January 13, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
While the fires have spared SoFi Stadium, the real opponent has been the air quality – thick enough to slice with a goalpost, so to speak. Response to the environmental hazard was swift. Still, according to the NFL, the decision to move the event was a result of "to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium." The NFL added, "As will all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed," as stated by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Previous instances of NFL game relocations remind us that this is not an unprecedented play. The Vikings have seen their fair share of venue volatility over the years, from a collapsed dome in 2010 forcing them to Detroit and the University of Minnesota to blizzard-induced changes – football, like any sport, remains at the mercy of Mother Nature.
