Fans rip the NFL over awful field conditions at Estadio Azteca

The NFL returned to the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City a year after it pulled out of a game on short notice after the field surface was deemed unsafe for a NFL game.

So how is the turf tonight for the Chargers-Chiefs game?

Not great at all.

ESPN and NFL Network did their best to tell us a bunch of times before the game that things with the field would not be a problem.

Then on the first play of the game Chargers tight end Hunter Henry got tripped up by the turf after making a 16-yard catch.

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Booger Macfarland were quiet about the field issues, though they did talk about it briefly after a huge divot came up on a play in the second quarter.

The field look good before the game:

Field at Azteca Stadium looks to be in slightly better condition than it was last year (pic via @EstadioAzteca) #Chiefs #Chargers #MNF pic.twitter.com/Wgx3GzTmUN

— John Breech (@johnbreech) November 18, 2019

But it didn’t seem to hold up at all once play began and fans/media weighed in on the safety issues and the NFL’s inability to see this coming:

Good old Azteca Stadium 🤔#Chiefs #MNF pic.twitter.com/WOwLqE4bTu

— Faron Peterson (@FaronSP) November 19, 2019

On the first play, Chiefs receiver fell down with no one nearby. ESPN said the turf was inspected Saturday and given an “A” by the league, but the players keep looking at the turf as if it’s not in good shape.

Joe Tess and Booger aren’t discussing what could be a storyline. https://t.co/hxw9SavAKF

— Ken Fang (@fangsbites) November 19, 2019

Exceptionally safe. Totally normal. pic.twitter.com/p6HwAS98oi

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 19, 2019

Workers are trying to fill divots at halftime. pic.twitter.com/UtqQZmAN3k

— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) November 19, 2019

Only minutes after @espn hosts proclaim the excellence of the new and improved grass surface at Estadia Azteca chunks of turf are everywhere, including in the cleats and face masks of fallen players. #MNF pic.twitter.com/xAVxGkx1Dt

— Dennis W. Alpert (@DennisWAlpert) November 19, 2019

The divots in this turf at Azteca are absolutely atrocious tonight. Someone is going to get hurt.

Teams HATE playing in this stadium. The league needs to stop forcing them to go.

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) November 19, 2019

If the NFL wants to play games in Mexico City that’s fine, but for goodness sakes pay whatever it takes to get a modern artificial turf field out there at Azteca Stadium.

— JS (@spencer_josh) November 19, 2019

ESPN’s Lisa Salters said Estadio Azteca turf was “playing well” in a pregame report. I’d suggest she was being premature, as the game hadn’t started, and hold applause till the end. So far divots are flying like a bad day at Soldier Field players are slipping and limping.

— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) November 19, 2019

Funny that a large part of the pregame was talking up the improved grass field at Estadio Azteca… then the first play of the game a turf monster reaches up & trips Hunter Henry on what couldve been a huge gainer.
..do really want to see Mahomes throw 100 yards in this thin air

— drew & dave (@walkitoffradio) November 19, 2019

And this is what the GOOD turf looks like at Estadio Azteca. Nice job, NFL.

— Mike Dempsey (@md_1010xl) November 19, 2019

London had to make some changes to Wembley — Tottenham has a turf field ready to go for football at their new stadium. Maybe NFL suggests the same for Azteca?

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) November 19, 2019