Editions
Los 40 USA
Scores
Follow us on
Hello

LA Sport

California wildfires take their toll on Los Angeles sporting events

Several major sporting events have been cancelled or relocated as wildfires continue to rage in and around the city of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, California
Several major sporting events have been cancelled or relocated as wildfires continue to wreak havoc in and around the city of Los Angeles.
Mario AnzuoniREUTERS

Raging and out-of-control, Los Angeles has suffered three days of havoc and destruction as wildfires have lead to at least 10 deaths, decimation of hundreds of buildings, and prompted evacuation orders for nearly 180,000 residents across the county.

Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Sylmar, Altadena, Pasadena, and the Hollywood Hills have been the areas hardest hit areas as gusts exceeding 100 mph have fueled the flames since the morning of January 7.

Vehicles and a house burn as powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area
Full screen
Vehicles and a house burn as powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area David SwansonREUTERS

How have the fires affected sport?

The first major sporting event to suffer was Wednesday’s National Hockey League (NHL) game as the LA Kings cancelled their game against the Calgary Flames at the Crypto.com Arena. The NHL announced the cancellation of the game, which has been postponed to a yet to be confirmed future date.

The basketball world saw Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard leaving the team’s training camp to help his family members affected by the wildfires.

The 33-year-old LA native decided to support his family members, who were forced to evacuate their LA home and the player was absent from Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Colorado.

Thursday’s NBA clash between Charlotte and the Lakers was cancelled on the grounds of safety and doubts surround their game against the Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Saturday going ahead.

Both head coaches, JJ Redick of the Lakers and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors saw how their families had to be evacuated from the Pacific Palisades area due to wildfires with both men sharing emotional messages via social media.

NFL relocates Wild Card clash

Monday’s Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams playoff game has also been moved to the State Farm Stadium in Arizona with the change prompted by the ongoing complicated situation caused by wildfires in the state of California.

In an NFL statement, the league announced the decision to move the Monday Night Football game to Arizona, prioritizing public safety and after speaking with the corresponding authorities in the city of Los Angeles.

The other LA team, the Chargers have been forced to adjust their training sessions and avoid outdoor activities due to poor air quality. They play away from home in their Wild Card game and travel on Friday to Houston to face the Texans at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Firefighters battle to put out wildfires in Southern California. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Full screen
Firefighters battle to put out wildfires in Southern California. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYRingo ChiuREUTERS

Vela loses Malibu home

Mexican striker Carlos Vela was just one of the hundreds of people who have been directly affected by the events of the past few days as the former LAFC player and his wife Saioa Cañibano lost their home in Malibu as a consequence of the fires.

Both of LA’s MLS teams sent messages of support to the hundreds of people who have been affected by the fires.

“Our hearts go out to our city and our community.Thank you to the fire departments and security for protecting us. Let’s stay safe and stay strong and support each other,” LAFC wrote.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

Rules