NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have postponed Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans by one hour to 2:02 p.m. due to blackouts and rolling blackouts caused by the bitter cold in the area.
“Due to the severe weather and power outages affecting our region, kickoff for today’s game has been postponed one hour to 1 a.m. CT,” the Titans said in a statement. “This decision was made jointly with the NFL, the Office of Emergency Management, Nashville Electric Service and the Mayor’s Office. An abundance of caution was taken to ensure the game does not negatively impact our community in any way. We are exploring every possibility to mitigate. Non-essential power around the stadium. Gates are currently open and Fans are welcome to walk in.
“At all times, the operation of the game was secondary to the well-being of our community, and we cannot thank OEM and NES enough for their dedication to the safety of our neighbors.”
Earlier on Saturday, Nashville Mayor John Cooper asked the Titans to postpone the game because of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s record high power demand due to unprecedented cold temperatures.
“I have been informed that TVA’s unilateral rolling blackouts will continue,” Cooper tweeted. “All non-essential businesses should reduce power usage. I have asked the Titans to postpone the 12pm game in solidarity with our neighbours.”
The temperature expected at kickoff is 18 degrees, making it the coldest game ever at Nissan Stadium. Dec. 31, 2017, when the temperature was 23 degrees against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the previous cold game the Titans played at Nissan Stadium.
In franchise history, the Titans/Oilers have never played a game in which the temperature was below 23 degrees.
To keep the field from freezing, four hours before kickoff, the Titans put a tarp over the field and blew hot air under it. The hot air was fueled by gas, not electricity.
Fans have already been allowed into the stadium.
