NFL Reveals Hurricane Contingency Plan to Transfer Tampa Bay Bucs Residence Recreation
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are scheduled to host the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for Sunday Night time Soccer. However the NFL has a contingency plan to maneuver the sport to Minneapolis in the event that they want an alternate web site due to potential displacement from Hurricane Ian.
Hurricane Ian struck southwest Florida on Wednesday inflicting catastrophic injury. If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are unable to host a sport on Sunday night, the NFL will transfer it to Minneapolis. (Picture: Reuters)
Hurricane Ian ravished Southwest Florida when it reached landfall on Wednesday. Over 2.5 million Florida residents are without power, together with roughly 500K residents in Tampa and Pinellas County.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor suggested residents to shelter in place. The following 24 hours are essential whereas authorities assess the widespread injury throughout the state.
Tampa’s airport is presently closed however set to reopen on Friday.
Present Should Go On
At this level, knowledgeable soccer sport is the very last thing on the thoughts of native officers. However the NFL has a “present should go on” mentality, which is why they enacted a contingency plan on Wednesday.
The Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to play the New Orleans Saints in London, England for the primary London sport this season. Their dwelling stadium is obtainable, so the NFL chosen U.S. Financial institution Stadium instead location for the matchup between the Bucs and the Chiefs.
As of Thursday morning, the Sunday Night time Soccer sport between the Bucs and Chiefs continues to be deliberate to play out in Tampa.
That is solely a contingency, however we’ll stay nimble and adaptable,” mentioned NFL vice chairman Jeff Miller in an official assertion.
An official determination will likely be made by Friday, in response to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
“We might make selections later within the week,” mentioned McCarthy.
Bucs, Chiefs Able to Play in Tampa or Minneapolis
In the beginning of final season, the NFL moved a Week 1 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Inexperienced Bay Packers due to an incoming hurricane. The Saints’ dwelling sport was moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
The Buccaneers relocated to Miami to observe for his or her upcoming matchup towards the Chiefs this week.
We are able to’t management the surface forces,” Tampa head coach Todd Bowles advised ESPN. “Our ideas are with town of Tampa proper now, however the place we have now to play. Hopefully it’s Tampa and all the things is ok, which means we’re not broken an excessive amount of. If we have now to go play elsewhere, we simply should focus and lock in. No person’s going to really feel sorry for us, you realize, so we’ve bought to be able to play.”
The Chiefs have contingency travels plans for Minneapolis if the sport will get relocated.
“We’ll get ourselves prepared for that,” mentioned Kansas Metropolis head coach Andy Reid. “When the league publicizes it, then we’ll go forward and transfer ahead in that course. That could possibly be in Tampa, could possibly be there in Minny. My coronary heart goes out to the folks of Tampa.”
Each the Bucs (2-1) and Chiefs (2-1) are coming off losses in Week 3. The Bucs opened as +3 dwelling underdogs in Week 4. The road has since moved of their favor, with early cash coming in on the Bucs. You’ll be able to presently again the Bucs at +1 at most on-line sportsbooks. The sport is a decide’em on the Circa Sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas.
