Inside ESPN’s Quick Pivot To Produce The NFL’s Wild Card Finale in Arizona, Amidst the Tragic Los Angeles Wildfires
The fires in Southern California caused the relocation of the Vikings-Rams playoff game to Glendale, Arizona, on short notice. Here's how coordination with the NFL and teamwork across ESPN departments helped smooth the transition process

On Sunday, Jan. 5, the Monday Night Football team – led by Producer Steve Ackels and Director Derek Mobley – eagerly awaited the NFL’s announcement on which Wild Card game ESPN would be assigned to present.
Shortly before 9 p.m. ET, official word came through: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to be played Monday, Jan. 13.
For the next 36 hours, the many teams across ESPN who touch MNF planned for an exciting playoff matchup between the 14-win Vikings and the host NFC West Champion Rams.
Then the wildfires erupted. The entire country – including the sports world – watched in horror as homes burned to the ground, displacing thousands of Los Angelenos and changing their lives forever.
Throughout Wednesday, Jan. 8, the fires were only getting larger and stronger. That evening, the NFL announced that the game remained in SoFi for the time being, but that State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, would be the relocation site if needed. In conjunction with the NFL, all groups began to strategize for different contingency plans.
With the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, ESPN's #NFL Wild Card finale between the @Vikings & @RamsNFL relocated to Arizona
Here's how ESPN departments rallied together to ensure a seamless transition days before the game: https://t.co/9ux24WoiXlpic.twitter.com/OYc1p5Sps2
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 13, 2025
The production trucks – which were driving from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles (a 2,440-mile journey) – halted in Kingman, Arizona, awaiting further instruction.
Production management began to scout hotels and logistics for hundreds of crew members in Arizona should the game be shifted, and knew that the wildfires, regardless of where the game would be played, would be a key storyline.
The challenge was clear: Simultaneously plan the game in two different cities and stadiums, knowing official word on a location might not come for another 48 hours. Throughout Thursday, that new plan was being executed on a number of levels.
On Thursday evening, the NFL announced that in the interest of public safety, the Vikings-Rams game would be moved to State Farm Stadium.
“While it is still a massive undertaking to pivot stadiums this late in the week, the NFL making their decision on Thursday definitely eased some of the logistical challenges,” said Tommy Mitchell, ESPN Senior Operations Manager.
Concurrently, Ackels and Mobley began working with their respective teams to identify new storylines and produce added game elements aimed at honoring the Los Angeles firefighters and a struggling community, while the NFL Production Management team finalized lodging and logistics for the entire crew, including the nearly 20 on-air personalities they support.
Jess Kraus, Sr. Production Manager, who oversees ESPN’s NFL production management team, credits Melany Rivera, Sr. Production Coordinator, with taking immediate action on the travel logistical front.
“Melany had already done extensive legwork beginning Wednesday night, so when the official announcement was made on Thursday, we had tentative hotels held and plans in place to move quickly,” said Kraus.
Across ESPN, as they have done for the last 18 weeks, every group worked collaboratively and effectively:
- The production trucks, which had left Kingman and were in Ontario, California, approximately four hours from Glendale, immediately turned around and headed east.
- The operations team began prepping the new stadium.
- ESPN’s Creative Content Unit began re-editing the MNF open, “In the Air Tonight.”
- The marketing team began adjusted its promotional elements
- The social team prepped new graphics and videos.
These are just a few of the many groups across ESPN who contributed to this process.
Reflecting on the hectic week, Mitchell said: “We have an extremely strong Monday Night Football and Monday Night Countdown crew. Jack Coffey, Chris Swihart, Jim Munn, Joe Rainey, Sam Majewski, Kylene Hamulak and Sascha Ford from the game-presentation side and Mark Mignini, Johnathan Williams, Brian Ristine, and Leah Morgenstern from the studio side, were all instrumental in making sure all crew members remained diligent and focused on the new task at hand.”
While the situation caused hiccups in planning and logistics, every member of the team recognizes that these issues pale in comparison to the real, dire issues the people of Los Angeles, including many ESPN colleagues, are facing.
On Friday evening, The Walt Disney Company announced it would be committing $15 million for initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts in the Los Angeles area.
ESPN’s Wild Card presentation of the Vikings-Rams game will be available across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (tonight, 8 ET). For more information on ESPN’s coverage, visit ESPN Press Room