UPDATE: 3:46 p.m. (Arrowhead Time)
That’s a wrap.
Chiefs-Rams game to move from Mexico City to Los Angeles due to field conditions pic.twitter.com/vWmpzS9lOr
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) November 13, 2018
UPDATE: 2:21 p.m. (Arrowhead Time)
This has officially become very interesting. ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that a number of Rams and Chiefs players are strongly considering holding out of Monday night’s game due to the field conditions.
If Monday night’s game is played in Mexico City, a number of Rams and Chiefs players are now strongly considering not playing in that game on that messy surface, per sources. “It’s not fair to risk our health,” one prominent player said today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2018
That is a problem.
Here is some clarity on Schefter’s note from Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson:
I’ve been told by multiple sources that players for the #Chiefs and #Rams have requested involvement from the #NFL player’s union regarding the field conditions in Mexico City. Some don’t want to play unless the union can inspect the field and determine if it’s safe for a game.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 13, 2018
UPDATE: 1:44 p.m. (Arrowhead Time)
Dustin Colquitt chimes in:
Let’s flip a coin for the location of the Chiefs vs Rams game!! @Chiefs @NFL I like our chances. #CoinTossChamps
— Dustin Colquitt (@dustincolquitt2) November 13, 2018
UPDATE: 1:21 p.m. (Arrowhead Time)
The latest from Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports), who appears to be well connected on this story:
A significant part of the #Rams and #Chiefs concern right now: knowing the serious problems with this Mexico City field, what happens if Pat Mahomes or Jared Goff or any player suffers an injury related to the surface? The element of protecting the players on this is paramount.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 13, 2018
UPDATE: 11:53 a.m. (Arrowhead Time)
Lara Moritz of KMBC tweeted a photo from the ground in Mexico City on Tuesday.
We’re inside #MexicoCity stadium checking field. @kmbc pic.twitter.com/l6Nedk5oKY
— Lara Moritz KMBC (@LaraMoritzKMBC) November 13, 2018
Moritz posted two videos of sod being replaced at the stadium, but they have since been deleted.
Well, this is getting out of hand.
Over the weekend, we tweeted a photo of Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to take on the Los Angeles Rams this Monday Night Football:
So this is apparently what the field in Mexico City the #Chiefs and Rams will play on in nine days looks like right now.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) November 11, 2018
( @Migue_luk) pic.twitter.com/w4RoSfT0ci
You can find other photos here, here and here.
The field suffered damage thanks to a Shakira concert that took place back on October 11.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports reported Monday, “the damage was so bad that photos of the ragged surface circulated among franchise executives raising questions about whether the field would be ready for the Monday night game.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked about the Mexico City field conditions at his Monday presser.
“I’ve seen it, but I think the NFL is on top of it,” he said. “They do a great job with all that stuff, so I’m not really worried about all that.”
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that discussions about whether to play the game in Mexico City, move it to Los Angeles or postpone it all together are taking place.
Discussions continue about whether Monday night’s Chiefs-Rams game will be played in Mexico City, LA or postponed, per sources. NFL determined to play it Monday night in Mexico City, but the field is “a mess” and might not be safe for players. It’s a significant concern.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2018
The Chiefs and the Rams come into the game as the standalone leaders of the AFC and NFC conferences, respectively, each posting 9-1 records.
While there is much league and team investment riding on this game, the right thing to do here is to move the game to the Los Angeles Coliseum, as it is considered a home game to the Rams on their schedule.
The alternative—keeping the game in Mexico City and risking unnecessary injury to players on two of the league’s best teams—feels short-sighted and wrong.
We’ll update you here as we hear more from the league and its reporters.