Dodger Stadium, one of the many symbols of Los Angeles, has been spared from the blaze that has consumed the city and much of its surrounding area. But the scene from the reigning World Series champions’ home park was anything but serene on Thursday, as new photos reveal.
The ballpark, which is undergoing renovations, is seen in the foreground with the setting sun hovering over the fiery hellscape lining the city’s coastline to the west.
And things were worse at the area’s other major stadiums, such as the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which is much closer to the raging fires and faces considerably more smoke as a result.
Even Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, which was scheduled to host an NFL playoff game on Monday, has been encircled in a yellow, brownish haze by the blaze that has claimed at least five lives so far. On Thursday, the NFL decided to relocate that game to Glendale, Arizona.
Meanwhile, the NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
It is the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles has been postponed. The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
An aerial image shows the sun setting behind the downtown LA skyline and Dodger Stadium
Smoke from the recent fires obscures the sun at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood
An aerial image shows smoke covering the hillsides behind the Rose Bowl stadium from wildfires including the Eaton Fire at sunset over Pasadena
The date for the rescheduled games will be announced at a later time. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game against Calgary will be good for the rescheduled date.
Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.
Roughly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers) — roughly the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before its game at Denver on Wednesday because of what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of home. … Totally had my support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
The NFL, too, is also battling repercussions of the fires.
The Los Angeles Rams sent out a statement to season-ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night’s NFC wild-card round postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings remains set to be played as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
However, that game has since been relocated to the Cardinals’ home stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Jim Harbaugh addressed the media on Thursday while wearing a LAFD baseball hat
The NFL said Wednesday evening if the game had to be moved, it would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players’ outdoor time in coastal El Segundo. The Chargers are leaving after practice on Thursday for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers’ offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team’s complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy.
‘Abundant prayers to all those that have been affected by this tragedy,’ Harbaugh told the media Thursday while wearing an LAFD baseball hat. ‘Also, I’ve just been inspired greatly by the first responder, the firefighters and the residents that have pulled together and had each other’s back. That’s been tremendously inspiring.
‘So, even though we’ve been on-mission,’ he continued, ‘abundant prayers and thoughts to all that are in this fight. We see neighbors on top of houses helping fellow neighbors, it’s truly inspiring.’
Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed in the blazes
ESPN’s Kris Rhim and Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Times were among several reporters to share the haunting photos of Thursday’s practice in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and offensive tackle Joe Alt were among the players seen working in the apocalyptic setting, which resembled a scene out of Terminator 2.
There have also been schedule changes in both college basketball and horse racing.
The West Coast Conference postponed women’s basketball games scheduled for Thursday night at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine was scheduled to face the University of Portland at Firestone Field House on the school’s Malibu campus. Pepperdine canceled classes Wednesday, and access to its coastal campus is restricted.
Loyola Marymount had its game against San Diego postponed as a precautionary measure due to air quality concerns inside Gersten Pavilion while the facility is being renovated.
The Palisades fire has consumed nearly 28,000 acres and turning entire neighborhoods to ash
Meanwhile, Santa Anita Park has postponed Friday’s racing program until Jan. 16 because of poor air quality forecast in Arcadia, near the Eaton Fire.
The California Horse Racing Board approved the rescheduling of the 10-race card, which will be run with the horses previously entered.
“While Santa Anita continues to remain well outside of any active fire area, the smoke from the wildfires is affecting all of Los Angeles County,” track general manager Nate Newby said. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires.”
A decision on Saturday and Sunday’s racing will be made Friday.
The track is handing out N-95 masks to all backstretch and frontside workers as well as protective eyewear because of the smoke.
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