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NFL has to cancel Hall of Fame game because of a poorly painted field

Another misstep for the NFL.

Marcus Gilmer

on August 7, 2016

NFL has to cancel Hall of Fame game because of a poorly painted field

A Green Bay Packers fan looks out over the field prior to the NFL Hall of Fame Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Canton, Ohio. The game was cancelled due to poor field conditions. Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

UPDATED (8:50 p.m., ET) to add comments from NFL players and additional details.

The 2016 NFL preseason got off to a rough start Sunday night when the league was forced to cancel the annual Hall of Fame Game, the traditional preseason opener, due to what was deemed unsafe playing conditions.

The game was scheduled to be played between the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers and, while not a particularly popular game, it closes out the annual induction weekend for the NFL's Hall of Fame, played in the league's stadium that stands next to the museum.

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While Sports Illustrated reported that several players complained this week about the hard playing surface, most reports about tonight's cancelation surrounded the paint at midfield and in the endzone which reportedly congealed and was "like playing on tar."

Analysts on ESPN speculated that a concert held at the stadium on Friday night, as part of the weekend festivities, may have played a part in contributing to the conditions. Sunday night's game was to be the first to be played since renovations that included installing field turf that had previoulsy been used in New Orleans' Superdome by the New Orleans Saints.

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Crews work on the field prior to the NFL Hall of Fame Game between the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Canton, Ohio. The game was cancelled due to poor field conditions. Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

David Baker, Hall of Fame president told ESPN on-air that a refund would be made to fans who were in attendance, many of whom had travelled for the weekend festivities. Many fans of the Packers and Colts had made the trip because members of their teams -- Packers legend Brett Favre, former Colts coach Tony Dungy and wide receiver Marvin Harrison -- were inducted into the Hall this weekend.

Baker added that a performance by the halftime entertainment, singer Lee Greenwood, would occur and the new Hall of Fame inductees would make an appearance. He later addressed the fans, citing the primary concern as being player safety.

After the cancelation, players began to weigh in. DeAngelo Williams, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, shared his ire online, complaining that the field conditions were just as bad at last year's Hall Of Game which featured several injuries, including Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham who tore his ACL, an injury that cost him his job.

Hall of Fame quarterback Boomer Esiason name-checked some of the rougher stadiums to play in during his career.

Meanwhile, NFL fans, ready for the first game in six months, weren't too happy with the decision and the reason for the cancelation.

There were also Frank Ocean jokes galore.

And, yes, of course there was a Crying Jordan meme.

Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.