The NFL is determined to see the New Orleans Saints kick off their second preseason game with the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night whether Hurricane Hilary hits the area or not. Orange County is under the first tropical storm warning — not the first this year, but the first ever — but the league office has determined the show must go on.
So kickoff is still scheduled for 6 pm. CT/4 p.m. PT, right around the time bands of tropical wind and rain are forecast to approach one of America’s largest cities. And any fans looking to brave the elements so they can see their team play an exhibition game should take precautions for the weather while at their seats.
Pack a poncho, wear good shoes, and try to practice patience. Don’t assume you’ll be high and dry just because SoFi Stadium has a dome. The venue does not have complete walls encircling the field, stands, and concourse (so that the normally-pristine Los Angeles climate can breeze through) but that exposure has led to rain pouring inside before. Past games have dealt with lightning delays, interior flooding, and injuries from people slipping and falling while just trying to make their way to their seats. Another factor to consider is how the precipitation may impact the field’s artificial Matrix Turf playing surface.
Take a look for yourself at the elements’ intrusion to this year’s NCAA national championship game between Georgia and TCU:
The rain has PICKED UP and is definitely getting inside SoFi Stadium pic.twitter.com/8mEQRDD4cH
— jordan mendoza (@jordan_mendoza5) January 10, 2023
The wind is blowing rain into the concourse of SoFi because the stadium was built without walls.
This poor worker is “mopping up” the water. pic.twitter.com/bPpjEqagG4
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 10, 2023
Roof or not, rain is pouring into SoFi Stadium. pic.twitter.com/acWQOku41r
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 10, 2023
The rain is currently only coming in through the roof on the side where TCU fans are sitting in SoFi Stadium ☔️😬 pic.twitter.com/gSosjprBEd
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 10, 2023
It’s pouring rain outside … and it’s blowing into the open air sections of SoFi Stadium. #godawgs #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/FDwzd7YC6m
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) January 10, 2023
Currently raining points and, well, rain inside SoFi Stadium pic.twitter.com/Nhf84eRfau
— Chuck Dunlap 🏈 (@SEC_Chuck) January 10, 2023
Football fans at SoFi Stadium were taken out on stretchers after heavy rain caused slippery conditions during the national championship game. pic.twitter.com/IM0TzIPdHe
— 48 Hours (@48hours) January 10, 2023
Sideways rain coming into SoFi Stadium during #CFPNationalChampionship2023 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/nU2JC3GelC
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) January 10, 2023
SoFi being a hybrid indoor/outdoor stadium means it’s still really chilly in here and rain and wind are coming in. #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/xOBuzLf9UC
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) January 10, 2023
Rain from California storms floods walkways in the (mostly) indoor SoFi Stadium during the Georgia vs TCU College Football National Championship game pic.twitter.com/NLHBjDLXhD
— RWalker Travel (@RWalkerTravel) January 11, 2023
SoFi is open air stadium. While it’s covered it’s cold and the rain blowing in sideways. pic.twitter.com/zFqx5GSNk8
— Frank Sulkowski WJCL (@TheBigGuyWJCL) January 10, 2023
