The New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals are the only two NFL teams that have their own airplanes for the complex logistics involved in transporting large squads, with players of great stature, and all the support staff during the season. The rest use charters, mostly negotiated with the main companies in the United States.
The Cardinals, in a gesture that has been highly praised in the last few hours, sent two of their five Boeing 777-200 planes to transport the entire Los Angeles Rams team to play this Monday in the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings.
Due to the fires in Los Angeles, the Rams will not be able to use the SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, near Palisades, and will be playing their home games at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.
How did the Cardinals' help materialize for the Rams?
The Rams' delegation is composed of 450 people, including players, coaches, support staff, family members, and even pets, among which there are six dogs and two cats. Of these, 350 traveled on Friday night.
According to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cardinals will also make their training center available to the Rams for pre-game sessions. This gesture includes allowing the Los Angeles team to conduct their final tactical review at their facilities on Saturday.
The logistics behind moving a playoff game are not simple, and the unexpected relocation has created additional tensions for the Rams.
With these efforts, the Arizona Cardinals stand out not only for their hospitality, but also for their commitment to the sports community in times of need.
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has had few cancellations due to the fires, only 8.55% according to the analysis by the company Cirium.
The fires, with various sources, have left 11 people dead and a destruction never before seen in Los Angeles.