The Air Quality Index (AQI), a measurement used to determine how risky it is for people to be outside, has reached "very unhealthy" levels in Santa Clara, where the San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to play their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
As of Friday afternoon, the AQI in Santa Clara is at 205. If it were to remain that high through Sunday, the 49ers game would have to be relocated or rescheduled. However, current forecasts show that the AQI is expected to drop a bit to the "unhealthy" designation, which is considered acceptable by the NFL.
Unlike the MLB, which previously told SFGATE it does not have an AQI threshold that would trigger the postponement or cancellation of a game, the NFL says it will relocate or reschedule any game in which the AQI is above 200. In November 2018, the NFL monitored the AQI in advance of home games featuring the 49ers and the Raiders, though both went ahead as scheduled because they didn't surpass the 200 mark before kickoff.
Of course, just because the NFL proceeded with those games doesn't mean their decision came without risks — as New York Giants and Jets reporter Ralph Vacchiano tweeted in 2018, the "unhealthy" AQI designation still stipulates that people should "reduce prolonged or heavy exertion," A.K.A. the exact opposite of playing professional football outside.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sfgate.com/49ers/amp/AQI-levels-49ers-15560034.php
As of Friday afternoon, the AQI in Santa Clara is at 205. If it were to remain that high through Sunday, the 49ers game would have to be relocated or rescheduled. However, current forecasts show that the AQI is expected to drop a bit to the "unhealthy" designation, which is considered acceptable by the NFL.
Unlike the MLB, which previously told SFGATE it does not have an AQI threshold that would trigger the postponement or cancellation of a game, the NFL says it will relocate or reschedule any game in which the AQI is above 200. In November 2018, the NFL monitored the AQI in advance of home games featuring the 49ers and the Raiders, though both went ahead as scheduled because they didn't surpass the 200 mark before kickoff.
Of course, just because the NFL proceeded with those games doesn't mean their decision came without risks — as New York Giants and Jets reporter Ralph Vacchiano tweeted in 2018, the "unhealthy" AQI designation still stipulates that people should "reduce prolonged or heavy exertion," A.K.A. the exact opposite of playing professional football outside.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sfgate.com/49ers/amp/AQI-levels-49ers-15560034.php
