NFL moves Chiefs-Rams to Los Angeles

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There will not be a game between the Chiefs and Rams in Mexico City next Monday night.

The NFL announced on Tuesday that the game will move from Azteca Stadium to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The game is being moved after concerns were raised about the condition of the field after several events were held at Azteca Stadium amid a lot of rain in Mexico City. There was an attempt to re-sod the field on Tuesday, but the league consulted with the NFLPA and independent field experts before determining that the field was not up to NFL standards now and would not be ready by gameday.

NFL executive vice president of international Mark Waller said in a statement that the field conditions presented an “unnecessary risks to player safety.” Before the NFL’s decision, players from both teams were reportedly considering not playing in the game for that reason.

All teams scheduled to give up a home game for an international game are required to have their home stadiums available on an emergency basis. The Rams have traveled to Colorado Springs to prepare for the Mexico City trip at altitude, but will now head back home to get ready to host the 9-1 Chiefs.

109 responses to “NFL moves Chiefs-Rams to Los Angeles

  1. This is the right move. The teams and NFLPA had to have had the utmost influence here, because the NFL surely didn’t want to move this game.

  2. Mexican living in Mexico City. One of the most interesting and worldy cities
    But…
    the NFL got this one right. The Estadio Azteca is an old horrible stadium located in a very poor area of the city. Hopefully they will switch venue for the future, if not, I prefer watching the Games being played in US stadiums.

  3. Amazing that most PFT commenters want more violence in the game, QB to be crushed (but not MY QB!), basically a Roman Coliseum blood bath. But, the field in Mexico has some bare grass and everybody cries. And only a couple of you actually pointed out that they play on dirt in Oakland. And then there’s the flat out “murica” idiots…

  4. A lot of people who booked flights and hotel accommodations are really going to be scurrying to get refunds etc!

  5. Was probably the right move under the circumstances, but it’s a massive lose-lose situation for the NFL. Travelling fans with flights and hotels booked are going to be very upset.

  6. Extremely poor planning on the NFLs part…Trying to be global and cant get the most important ingredient right…the field

  7. This is only happening because it’s two first place teams. If this were Cleveland against Buffalo there is not a chance they would have moved the game. Can’t have top stars or first place teams in danger.

  8. Remember sports before money rules every decision? I don’t think bringing a game to a new market is a bad thing and I certainly don’t think players need to be coddled at every moment. It’s so strange to read, “this is the right thing for player safety!” one moment but being totally ok with the sport being exactly what it was meant to be… brutal and a bit dangerous. Be all in or all out, this hypocrisy tastes gross.

  9. Wow! 500 years after the Aztec Emperors used to sacrifice enemy tribal Chiefs and Lambs near present day Mexico City, it’s good to see that Emperor Goodell gave the thumbs up to HIS Chiefs and Rams. #Progress

  10. yes the NFL did something right… IF… I was a fan of either team and had paid for my flights and hotel etc.. I would be pissed.. Not because the NFL moved the game but because they didn’t plan for this and see it as a possibility.

  11. Can you imagine the heat Goodell and the NFL would have brought down on themselves if Gurley or Mahomes or any of the other stars would have blown out a knee playing on that parking lot they call a field?

  12. What I don’t understand is they have had similar problems with that turf in the past. I seem to remember a game involving the Cowboys (and I think the Chargers) where players were slipping all over the field. The sod didn’t have time to take root and is not designed for the behemoths of the NFL. Since that has been a problem in the past why do they continue to schedule games there? It doesn’t make much sense. Thankfully they looked after the players’ welfare–probably only after the players threatened not to participate.

  13. And this should be the last time the NFL tries to host an event in a 3rd world country

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    as far as infrastructure goes.. the US is almost a 3rd world country. This happened because they had too many events at that stadium before this one. Kind of like the other day when you could see the USC field marks during an NFL game and it looked like crap.

  14. You should have seen the fields the games were played on back when men played, not business people.

    Money … It’s what our nation is built on. I don’t complain, I still pay for it every year. I know how it works.

  15. A good guess is the NFL was getting legitimate feedback of more and more players actually not going to take the field.
    As agents made the calls to the NFLPA there became a tipping point of absolute embarrassment of that leaking out…as well as a potential lawsuit for willful disregard of player safety being considered.

  16. The NFL dropped the ball and people are cheering because “Mexico lol”. The fact it came down to the very last second when literally thousands have made international travel plans to see this game only to be told the last minute that the venue changes cities to LA. Is it the right call? Yes. That said, even allowing ther decision to come into play when you’re showcasing your billion dollar enterprise worldwide is a bad look and the people in charge of oversight of international games (if there are any) should be publicly held accountable if not at least for the passionate and loyal fans that willingly elected to follow their teams on the road to be appeased. You’re talking a few grand here per person.

  17. How embarrassing for Mexico City. Good Lord…did the game creep up on you guys? It’s been on the schedule since April and you people can’t get the field in shape? Pathetic…no maybe the NFL will stop its love affair with playing games outside Merica.

  18. This is why the NFL should stay right here and not try the international games. The controls these other countries have over sports might not be as tight as it is here, even though too many times our fields get nad because billionaires want an extra $1,000,000

  19. If it’s any consolation, the game is still being played in Mexico, just the northern region.

  20. —————————

    Rob Brzezinski is a Magician says:
    November 13, 2018 at 4:52 pm
    The NFL did something right. I did not see that coming.

    ———————————–

    The right thing was not going there originally…

  21. NFL refused to pay the cartel bribe and pulled the game. SEE timberwolves vs Spurs in Mexico City. A mysterious fire occurred before tip off and the game was canceled. Make no mistake, the field is a cover up for the potential safety issues.

  22. Mexico is not a “third world country,” guys.

    That said, whoever was in charge of organizing this mess is definitely on the D-team.

  23. Of course the NFL could not find another neutral site. Just like the Chiefs having to play New England in THIER HOUSE two years in a row. If you don’t beiieve there is favoritism in the NFL, put down the pipe and take a shot of reality . . .

  24. I wonder if the Airlines will be somewhat understanding when Chiefs/Ramsfans ask for a ticket change /refund at no cost!

    Glad to see the NFL was on top of the logistics in making sure a concert wasn’t going to be there days before, and not commiting until they knew all the details.

  25. So am I right that the Rams get 9 home games this year and the Chiefs only 7?

    ==========
    No, this was a home game for the Rams. They were only going to have 7 in LA. It’s one of the complaints teams have about the international games. Specially when teams like the Patriots in all the years of these international games have never had to go, nor go and lose a “home” game.

  26. ebhaynz says:
    November 13, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    So am I right that the Rams get 9 home games this year and the Chiefs only 7?
    ______

    No. If the Chiefs were losing a home game by playing in Mexico City, why wouldn’t they have moved the game to Kansas City? This was the Rams’ home game they were giving up so now they both play 8 home games.

  27. The NFL won’t be contributing to the water crisis in Mexico City, and Rams fans will be glad to see a great game at home.

  28. Terrible Analogies says:

    Mexico is not a “third world country,” guys.
    ==========================================

    Yes it is.

  29. I appreciate that the Rams are giving tickets to first responders and the families that are affected by the fire.

  30. Mexico City is a LOT of fun, and if I lived closer I would have flown down to see this game.

    That said, right move by the NFL. Can’t wait for this game (and I’m not a fan of either team).

  31. Did the teams flip a coin or something? Why would it just be moved to LA? If I’m the Chiefs(or a fan), I’m not happy.

  32. “not a third world country”. Ever been outside the .01% tourist areas? I have traveled Mexico City and Guadalajara extensively on business and it is just absolute ungodly poverty and decay. Horrible.

  33. I can’t imagine how bad the field is for the NFL to switch gears. I mean, they love to talk about player safety but rarely do things like–ensure a safe playing field.
    Good on the NFL for not making the players play on a bad field.

    Bad for, uh, perhaps making sure PRIOR to the game they weren’t going to have so many events it was likely to ruin an already suspect field.

  34. RobfromAmarillo says:
    November 13, 2018 at 6:56 pm
    Did the teams flip a coin or something? Why would it just be moved to LA? If I’m the Chiefs(or a fan), I’m not happy.
    ———————————————-
    LA was the team giving up the home game.

  35. Good move NFL. The only other wish I had, was to have different announcers for this game. Also this was a Home game the Rams were supposed to lose. Now they have 8 real homes games instead of just 7.

  36. “not a third world country”. Ever been outside the .01% tourist areas? I have traveled Mexico City and Guadalajara extensively on business and it is just absolute ungodly poverty and decay. Horrible
    ————————————–
    When I’m there I always catch myself looking around like “How in the heck do we share a border with a country like this”. You would think just by pure proximity they would thrive at least a little. Look at Canada lol

  37. Third-world country is a term that is only a reflection of the affiliation during the cold war. I thought you commenters were supposedly smart.

  38. Damn. I was hoping the field — and the dude with the laser pointer — would takw out both teams and pave the way for Patriots-Saints. Now I’ll have to rely on the mudslides and the fires.

  39. Third-world country is a term that is only a reflection of the affiliation during the cold war. I thought you commenters were supposedly smart
    ———————–
    My apologies Einstein. Was just pointing to the fact that is doesn’t deserve higher distinction.

  40. hope the concert was worth it mexico… you just blew your chance to host a once-in-a-decade type regular season game…

  41. So lemme get this straight. NFL moves game from Mexico City because of old stadium, rough field with too many concurrent events, Stadium also in rough part of town where gangs have been known to roam – and deep down they’re all Raiders fans anyways.

    Isn’t that the Coliseum? Isn’t that South Los Angeles? I don’t get it. Oh, wait. Two first place teams. Got it. Nice excuse though NFL.

  42. Considering the average Mexican can’t afford to go to the games, why have the games there? 5 bucks (USD) is considered a very good paying job in mexico. Who is buying the tickets? When nascar went down there to “spread the sport”, they gave most of the tickets away for free because the people in mexico couldn’t buy tickets and pay their rent. The NFL must be doing the same thing.

  43. We will find out later what concession the NFLPA was forced into, in order to get the game moved. The NFL could care less about this issue.

  44. dmuehlhausen says:
    November 13, 2018 at 5:58 pm

    No, this was a home game for the Rams. They were only going to have 7 in LA. It’s one of the complaints teams have about the international games. Specially when teams like the Patriots in all the years of these international games have never had to go, nor go and lose a “home” game.
    —————————————————————–

    Jeez, if you are going to hate the Pats do a little research- the Pats have played a game in England, and they played JUST LAST YEAR in Mexico City!

  45. It’s nice spin, and maybe even truth. But dollars move this league, nothing else. I can’t help but think that the millionaires in their private booths stepped in on this one. Way, way too much gameday profit to be made, to allow this game not to be played in U.S.
    If both teams were 1-9, would this game have been moved. IMO, no.

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