CANTON, Ohio – An epic weekend in football paradise ended with a major thud.
Sunday evening’s Hall of Fame Game pitting the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers, the final phase of celebrating the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s most recent enshrinees, was canceled due to unplayable turf at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Field.
The first confirmation came from Colts’ defensive lineman Ricky Lumpkin:
Game canceled but will go out and talk to fans and sign things. Was juiced but safety is number 1.
— Ricky Lumpkin (@RickyLumpkin) August 7, 2016
It marks the first time a preseason game was cancelled since Aug. 14, 2001 when a similar fate befell the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. The turf at Veterans Stadium was deemed unplayable.
This story will be updated.
This guy attempting some type of maintenance at midfield. pic.twitter.com/vvvtNIrJRS
— Chris Hagan (@ChrisHaganIndy) August 7, 2016
The teams were reportedly told that the field was in game condition this morning but when they tried to dry the paint on the lettering, the paint melted into the fibers of the field when they applied a heater. Teams were also told that there were pieces of the field that were not sewn together.
Source tells me that the teams were told the field was in game condition this AM but paint melted into fibers when they dried it w/ a heater
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) August 7, 2016
Source also says that teams were told pieces of the field were not sewn together.
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) August 7, 2016
Information about refunds for Hall of Fame Game here.
