Feature

Hurricane Harvey forces Houston Texans home game to be relocated

Hurricane Harvey has forced the NFL American football preseason game between the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys to be moved to the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The severe weather conditions hit Southeastern Texas hard this past weekend causing major flooding in the Houston area.

The NFL’s statement read: “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.”

Hurricane Harvey was anticipated, allowing time for the teams and the league to relocate the game. Cowboys executive vice-president and chief executive Stephen Jones offered to host the game at his team’s home ground.

The Texans’ NRG Stadium is reportedly undamaged, although there is major flooding nearby. The team has returned to Frisco to train in the Cowboys’ facilities after deciding not to return to Houston amid the weather issues.

The Texans previously announced it would be donating $1m (£772,000/€831,000) to the United Way of Greater Houston’s flood relief fund, while the NFL Foundation is also sending the fund the same amount. The New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft has also pledged $1m, though it will be donated to the American Red Cross for its relief efforts in the region.

In addition, Texans player J.J. Watt has raised almost $500,000 towards his $1m target for the relief fund.

The team is scheduled to open its season at home on September 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, though there has been no decision on whether or not that game will need to be relocated, too.

“The NFL and the Texans will continue to closely monitor the situation in Houston and adjust the team’s plans as necessary,” the NFL said in a statement.

Image: US Department of Defence