LOS ANGELES — On Friday, the Los Angeles Rams concluded their practice at their training facility, surrounded by a bright sky overshadowed by dark clouds of wildfire smoke in the distance.
They then joined a contingent of 355 individuals, including six dogs and two cats, and made their way to the airport where the Arizona Cardinals provided two planes to assist their commute to Phoenix.
Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht expressed that their motivation extends beyond just the game itself: “We’re going in there for everyone in Los Angeles — for all those impacted by the fires, for those who have been displaced, and for those who have evacuated. This week is about that mission; it’s what drives us.”
With a record of 10-7, the Rams are gearing up for their most crucial match of the season, grappling with the ongoing wildfires that have severely affected the Los Angeles area. Players and coaching staff are striving to compartmentalize football from real-life realities, which has proven challenging. They are determined to face the situation head-on as they prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at State Farm Stadium in a match-up that has significant implications.
Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer, emphasized the community’s hardship, stating, “Our community is hurting right now, so it essentially reflects on our organization. However, we have a chance on Monday to provide hope and a momentary escape for our fans and those in the city who need it, whether through in-person attendance or television.”
Initially, only a handful of Rams staff were directly touched by the flames until the Kenneth Fire erupted close to the team’s training facility in Woodland Hills, resulting in billowing smoke that was alarming to see.
Numerous players, coaches, and staff reside in the vicinity, many of whom were given evacuation orders or opted to leave as a precaution—this included head coach Sean McVay’s wife, Veronika, and their one-year-old son, Jordan, who met him at the practice complex.
“Fortunately, they managed to get things under control. I saw them immediately after getting off the practice field because of their proximity,” McVay recalled. “That made the situation much more real for me… It’s quite tough because you see the physical impacts as the smoke billowed yesterday, and many reside close by, which hits home differently.”
Demoff, a Los Angeles native, had been hopeful that the playoff game against Minnesota could still take place at SoFi Stadium until Thursday. However, the emergence of the Kenneth Fire and the relentless nature of other blazes compelled both the Rams and the NFL to adopt Plan B.
“Right before the Kenneth Fire broke out, we discussed with local public safety officials who began to express doubts about adequately staffing the game,” Demoff explained. “You could hear the distress in their voices; it became evident that not playing the game was the right thing to do. That realization hit just before we had to evacuate players due to the Kenneth Fire flare-up that was visible to all.”
The Rams expressed gratitude for the Cardinals’ assistance in facilitating their relocation. In addition to the aircraft provided by the Bidwill family, the Rams will train at the Cardinals’ facility and will attempt to make State Farm Stadium resemble a Rams home game with personalized signage and painted grass.
Filling the stadium remains a priority; Rams season ticket holders purchased 25,000 tickets within the first hour they were available on Friday. The team has organized at least 15 buses to transport fans from Inglewood to Glendale for the game, with more arrangements potentially being developed.
Moreover, the Rams have taken steps to ensure players’ families and their pets can also travel to Arizona, minimizing potential distractions for the players.
“We’ve got a small animal sanctuary going over to Arizona today,” Rams tight end Tyler Higbee joked. He added, “A couple of days ago, we thought the worst was behind us, and suddenly the fires are threatening homes near some of the team members. It’s unpredictable. My wife almost stayed back, but the last thing I want is to be in Arizona while there’s a fire at home, leaving her and our daughter to fend for themselves.”
Demoff labeled the decision to relocate the game as the correct choice. “It’s disheartening for our fans and our players,” he noted. “Our players earned a home playoff game, which is a testament to their hard work, but the circumstances merit that we play somewhere else. This doesn’t diminish their achievements or the fantastic season we’ve had; it simply serves as recognition that certain matters hold greater importance than football.”
McVay and several of his assistant coaches, alongside veteran players, including Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein, and receiver Cooper Kupp, have already experienced similar uncertainties during the 2018 season.
The Rams faced tough challenges due to the Woolsey Fire, which forced thousands to evacuate near their previous training facility right before a prominent Monday night match against the Kansas City Chiefs, which was shifted from Mexico City to Los Angeles on short notice due to concerns about Azteca Stadium’s field conditions.
