Los Angeles Wildfires: MLS footballer, NBA coach lose homes; matches postponed — impact on sports

The ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area have resulted in a loss of 11 lives so far, destroying acres of properties and resulting in millions of dollars of losses for residents. While it’s still not clear the reasons behind the devastating fire, it has impacted sporting events and sportspersons the same.

Los Angeles FC and Mexico striker Carlos Vela’s has been destroyed by the wildfire, it was announced by his wife Saioa Cañibano on an Instagram story on Thursday.

Sportspersons lose homes in wildfire

“Our beautiful Malibu home burned down yesterday,” the story read. “We are still in shock with everything that’s happening.”

“It’s very sad and scary to see everything burning. To all the messages of concern that are being sent to us, we are safe. Sending much love to all those affected and hopefully they will soon manage to put out the fire.”

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said Friday his family lost its rented home in the fire in Pacific Palisades this week.

“I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years,” he said after practice.

Redick said the house burned down Tuesday while the Lakers were on the road. Redick’s wife, Chelsea, and their two sons were safely away from the neighbourhood.

Matches postponed across NBA, NFL

Meanwhile, the NBA postponed Saturday’s home games for both the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers as part of the league’s response to the wildfires.

The Lakers were to play host to San Antonio. The Clippers were to play host to Charlotte. No makeup dates have been announced, and the league didn’t say if more games — both the Lakers and Clippers are scheduled to be home Monday and Wednesday as well — will be affected.

“The NBA and the Clippers and Lakers organizations have been in communication with local officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood about the ongoing situation in the Los Angeles area and the game postponements ensure no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts,” the league said.

The Lakers’ game scheduled for Thursday against Charlotte was also postponed.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced they are donating $1 million to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations “to support those affected by this disaster and are working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support longer term assistance and rebuilding efforts.”

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard took time away from the team to be with family who were evacuated, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said the house he was renting was lost in the devastating fires in the L.A. area.

“I was not prepared for what I saw,” Redick told reporters. “It’s complete devastation and destruction. I went through most of the village and it’s all gone. And I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home, our home is gone. And look, we were, we were renting for the year to try to figure out where we wanted to be long term. And everything we, we owned that was of any importance to us almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting was in that house."

Wildfires force Rams, Vikings to head to Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals stadium staff has worked nearly nonstop over the past days to put on an NFL playoff game with short notice. The LA Rams-Minnesota Vikings wild-card game was moved from Inglewood, California, because of the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area.

Among the biggest challenges: Securing staff to fill the 3,500 positions needed to put on a game, ranging from food service workers to parking attendants. There’s also the logistical hurdles of painting the field in Rams’ colors and updating multimedia for the videoboards around the stadium.

The idea is to make State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, feel at least a little like SoFi, the home of the Rams. Mark Dalton, Cardinals vice president of media relations, said the franchise was happy to help their division rival, especially considering the situation.

“There are many, many people working to make this happen,” Dalton said. “It’s truly a team effort.”

Donations by sports teams

To help out the needy, sportspersons and sports teams are coming forward with donations.

The NFL family is providing $5 million to support communities affected by the wildfires.

Individual contributions from clubs and ownership groups from the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and NFL Foundation will help support local organizations.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is “heartbroken” over the losses in the LA area and “inspired” by the heroism of first responders and residents helping each other.

The Rams are supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, benefitting both city and LA County Fire, and American Red Cross. The Kroenke family, which owns the Rams, is donating $1 million through their foundation to the LAFD Foundation.

The Chargers are helping the Red Cross, LAFD Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations.

On Saturday and Monday, the Chargers and Rams players, coaches and staff will wear team-specific LAFD hats and shirts. The items will be available for purchase, with proceeds from Chargers apparel going to the LAFD Foundation and Rams sales going to the LAFD Foundation and Red Cross.

Game-worn jerseys and select game-used footballs from both wild-card games will be sold on NFL Auction with proceeds going to the Red Cross.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Wilf Family Foundations are providing a matching $1 million contribution to support on-the-ground relief efforts. The Houston Texans are also donating $1 million. The NFL Foundation is donating a matching $1 million.

With agency inputs