NFL fans have slammed the decision to choose State Farm Stadium as the backup arena for the Los Angeles Rams’ playoff game, after the insurance company cancelled coverage for thousands of California homeowners ahead of this week’s wildfires.
The LA Rams are slated to host the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Monday night.
But plans are already in place to move the game to State Farm Stadium in Arizona as fires rip through Los Angeles, destroying homes and killing five people.
The Rams-Vikings game will be held at the home of the Cardinals, should the situation worsen in California.
But some fans have pointed out that, in 2023, State Farm announced it would stop accepting new homeowners-insurance applications in the Golden State.
Last year, the company then revealed it would stop covering 72,000 homes across California. It came amid the growing frequency and severity of wildfires in the state.
Many areas around Los Angeles, California, have been destroyed by deadly wildfires
The LA Rams are slated to host the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium in the NFL playoffs
‘Imagine that you live in LA, are a Rams fan, and you lost your house in a fire that State Farm revoked your coverage for, and now you have to watch your team play this weekend in State Farm Stadium,’ one fan pointed out on social media.
‘NFL says Vikings-Rams game would be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ if necessary. The same State Farm that sponsors a football stadium but cancelled insurance policies right before the fire,’ another said.
‘… At State Farm Stadium. The same State Farm that pulled out of California and screwed over policyholders being directly impacted by the fires? For God’s sake, @NFL, read the room,’ added a third.
According to the New York Times, many homeowners in the wealthy neighborhood of Pacific Palisades cannot find – or keep – coverage.
Last summer, it’s said, 70 percent of State Farm’s customers in the neighborhood – around 1,600 homeowners – lost their insurance.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the NFL for comment.
A spokesperson for State Farm told DailyMail.com: ‘Our number one priority right now is the safety of our customers, agents and employees impacted by the fires and assisting our customers in the midst of this tragedy.’
