Concerns have been raised over the state of the pitch at Estadio Azteca as the Mexico City venue prepares to host an NFL American football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams next Monday.
The stadium is primarily used to host association football matches but has staged a number of NFL games in the past, including last year’s clash between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders.
Football games and music concerts have left the Estadio Azteca pitch in a poor condition, with the NFL Players’ Association having been monitoring the situation closely.
Although NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN.com that the league expects the fixture to go ahead as planned next Monday, there remains a possibility that it could be relocated.
“We are working closely with the field manager at Azteca Stadium and others to ensure that we have an NFL-quality surface for our game, and we are looking forward to kicking off in Mexico City on Monday night,” McCarthy said.
ESPN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that moving the game to Los Angeles remains an option, with a final decision to be made this week.
Estadio Azteca hosted a Telehit music concert on November 7 and at the weekend the venue also staged a Liga MX football match between Cruz Azul and Lobos BUAP.
Image: AnatGutman
Share this