The calendar may have turned to October, but it’s going to feel like the heart of summer on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals square off against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday afternoon.
When the game kicks off at 1:05 p.m., the temperature will likely be in the mid-90s, according to NBC Bay Area Meterologist Rob Mayeda, making it the hottest game in Levi Stadium history.
Levi’s Stadium was built in a. way that puts much of the stadium into direct sunlight, which is an obvious problem for an area of the country that typically sees excessive heat throughout the year.
The team has been aware of the problem, with owner Jed York pleading with the NFL for afternoon home games later in the season, with the heat less of a concern.
“We’ve really pushed for that,” York said in an interview with The Athletic. “Obviously, the NFL has 32 different teams they need to work with as far as scheduling. But they’ve been great and willing to help us.”
The 49ers will look to earn win No. 3 on the season against their NFC West rivals on Sunday, while the Cardinals are looking for their second victory of the new year.
We’ll see how much the heat impacts the players on the field.
