Why was Titans game delayed? Mayor makes request to NFL franchise
The Tennessee Titans are set to host the Houston Texans in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium. Nashville mayor John Cooper openly called on the team to hold off on the game due to the strain on the power grid due to the freezing cold temperatures within and around the city.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is planning rolling blackouts to lessen the load on the grid. Cooper released a statement via Twitter urging the team to pause the start of their Week 16 matchup.
Cooper said:
“I’ve been informed that TVA’s unilateral rolling blackouts will continue. All non-essential businesses should reduce power usage. I’ve asked the Titans to postpone their 12pm game in solidarity with our neighbors. TVA needs to invest in infrastructure to withstand extreme temps."
There are other concerns to factor in possibly delaying the 1:00 p.m. ET/ 12:00 p.m. CT pm start. Firstly, many fans have already left their homes and are en route to Nissan Stadium.
When Cooper made his request, some fans were likely already starting to tailgate. Postponing the game's start time is going to cause those fans to be in the frigid cold even longer.
Due to continued unprecedented cold temps resulting in high power demand, TVA has directed local power companies to reduce load. Planned intermittent interruptions support system reliability. We appreciate everyone's patience and support as we manage this unprecedented demand. https://t.co/gw5t2GMcLo
Delaying a game on December 24th also impacts Christmas Eve plans for thousands of fans in the Nashville area.
Will the NFL consider pushing back the start of the Tennessee Titans game?
The league typically tries to cooperate with local authorities. Yet, asking the Tennessee Titans to push back a kickoff the morning of the game seems impossible. The weather forecast made it apparent that it was going to be cold enough to put additional pressure on the grid.
In Week 11, the league moved the Buffalo Bills - Cleveland Browns game from Buffalo to Detroit due to cold weather.
If Cooper had given the league more notice, there could have been a chance for the Week 16 game to be delayed.
On Saturday, there will be a high of 23 degrees Fahrenheit with 11 mph winds. We'll see if the AFC South matchup is delayed or if it will start on time.
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