In the end, the NFL faced no option but to act. On Thursday, with multiple wildfires still raging throughout Los Angeles, the league declared it would shift Monday night’s wild card playoff between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
When announcing the decision, the NFL emphasized public safety concerns, acknowledging issues related to air quality, strain on the community, and the potential pressure that a playoff event could place on local law enforcement and firefighting resources.
While it is not unprecedented for NFL games to be relocated due to events like hurricanes, snowstorms, and the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks the first time since 1936 that a postseason game has had to be moved, which occurred when the National Professional Football League championship was shifted from Boston to New York due to dismal ticket sales before the match.
Existing ticket holders for Monday’s game were provided with the option of a refund or credit for future events. Meanwhile, new tickets were made available for purchase on Friday, first to season ticket holders of the Cardinals and Rams, and then to the general public. A similar approach was adopted for suite reservations. According to the NFL, 52,000 tickets were sold in the initial two-hour priority window, with approximately 35,000 of those going to Rams season ticket holders. The team has also arranged bus transportation from SoFi Stadium for attendees.
“The gate was set to be substantial in LA, and it’s going to be significantly lower here at State Farm Stadium,” noted Sportscorp president Marc Ganis during a telephone conversation.
The NFL retains most of the ticket revenue from playoff games, while the teams participating receive stipends to cover travel and operational costs. However, home teams retain a substantial portion of revenues from concessions and parking; as of Friday afternoon, the specific revenue split among the Rams, Cardinals, and the NFL remained unclear.
“The question remains, ‘How much revenue will the Cardinals retain?’ and I’m not convinced it will be a significant amount,” Ganis remarked. “However, they won’t be expected to incur losses.”
In 2010, when a roof collapse forced the Vikings to relocate to the TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota, the revenue generated from parking and concessions wasn’t transformative, but the university valued the global visibility gained from hosting the event.
Revenue from a single game day—typically measuring between $1 million and $2 million—is relatively trivial for an organization like the Rams, recognized as the NFL’s second most valuable team, with a reported revenue of around $800 million for 2023, according to calculations by Sportico.
Moreover, undergoing a playoff game relocation tends to be less complex than managing a regular season game shift, as postseason events are often viewed as a bonus for sponsors and ticket holders.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have provided two team planes to the Rams, as well as access to their practice facility ahead of Monday’s matchup.
Business owners near Glendale’s State Farm Stadium could see the most significant economic benefits. Home playoff games typically produce millions in additional local spending, and the influx of two visiting fanbases could compensate for any lack of local excitement. The Cardinals have not welcomed a playoff game at home since 2015.
In principle, the sponsor for stadium naming rights, State Farm, could also benefit from increased visibility. Nonetheless, the firm—California’s leading home insurer—has faced backlash over its earlier choice to not renew policies for an estimated 30,000 properties statewide, including 1,600 homes in the severely impacted Pacific Palisades area.
California will miss out on nearly $1 million in income taxes from the players due to this shift. The state is known for its rigorous enforcement of income taxes based on the number of workdays high earners spend there. Much of those funds will stay with players, as they will instead spend two days in Arizona, which has a 2.5% tax rate compared to California’s top rate of 12.3%.
A significant portion of NFL revenue stems from its media agreements, which designate playoff games as the most lucrative segment of the overall package. For instance, Amazon is reported to be paying $150 million for its wild card game scheduled for Saturday night.
Monday’s broadcast will be accessible across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes.
NFL affiliates have pledged $5 million to help those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles, which includes a $1 million donation to the LAFD Foundation from the Rams’ owner, the Kroenke family. The Minnesota Vikings, along with the Wilf Family Foundations, are contributing an additional $1 million towards relief initiatives.
The latest assessments indicate that the total economic loss from the fires could exceed $50 billion, which have already resulted in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives since Tuesday morning.
For gameday, players and staff from both the LA Chargers and Rams will wear custom shirts and hats; retail versions will be available for purchase, with proceeds directed to the LAFD Foundation and the American Red Cross. The experiential venue Cosm, located adjacent to SoFi Stadium, will host a viewing of the game, with all ticket revenue benefiting the LAFD Foundation.
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