The NFL has announced that they’re moving Thursday’s Cowboys-Texans preseason game from Houston to Arlington, due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. The game had been scheduled for Houston’s NRG Stadium, but significant flooding and damage in the area has forced the relocation to AT&T Stadium.
Here’s the NFL’s full statement on the decision:
Due to public safety concerns resulting from the ongoing weather emergency related to Hurricane Harvey, Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys-Houston Texans game originally scheduled to be played in Houston at 7 p.m. CT has been relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Kickoff on Thursday will remain at 7 p.m. CT. Details on tickets, parking and other game day logistics will be announced later this week.
As announced earlier today, The NFL Foundation will match Mr. McNair and the Texans’ $1 million contribution to the United Way Relief Fund to address the immediate needs of those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The total $2 million contribution will support first response efforts by the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the United Way of Greater Houston. Our thoughts are with the Houston community during this difficult time and we encourage fans to text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief.
The NFL and the Texans will continue to closely monitor the situation in Houston and adjust the team’s plans as necessary.
We’re talking about a preseason game, and specifically the fourth preseason game, which is especially meaningless (very few potential starters play a snap). So, this decision was a no-brainer for the NFL.
It’s just one of the many examples of the sports world scrambling to find alternative plans for events impacted by Hurricane Harvey, but obviously sports a secondary concern right now.
