The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night.
“Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our fans, staff, and players safe.”
Photo: AFP
The Pepperdine women’s basketball team also postponed their home game scheduled for last night against the University of Portland at Firestone Field House on the school’s Malibu campus, the West Coast Conference announced. Pepperdine canceled classes on Wednesday, and access to its coastal campus is restricted.
The NFL is paying close attention to the potential impact of the fires on the two playoff-bound Los Angeles teams’ preparations and the Rams’ wild-card post-season game against the Minnesota Vikings scheduled for Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The NFL on Wednesday said if the game had to be moved, it would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex on Wednesday following two days of extraordinary winds. At least 70,000 people are under evacuation orders, and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed.
The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule on Wednesday to minimize their players’ outdoor time in coastal El Segundo, while the Rams did not resume practice until yesterday. The Chargers are on the road tomorrow against the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal lives in Calabasas, which is one of the areas affected by the wildfires. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Lal had “an intense night” with his family dealing with power outages.
The Rams said no players or staff members had been affected by the fires. The team is headquartered in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood about 20km north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before their game at Denver on Wednesday because of what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of home ... Totally had my support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
“Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that,” he added.
The NBA’s Hornets made their flight to Los Angeles as scheduled on Wednesday afternoon. At press time last night, the game with the Lakers remained scheduled.
“We are in communication with the Lakers and Hornets and continue to closely monitor the situation to determine if any scheduling adjustments are necessary related to tomorrow night’s game,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said on Wednesday.
At least five people have been killed in the fire north of Pasadena several kilometers east of the venerable Rose Bowl in a different canyon.
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