The Los Angeles Rams are set to transform the city's Fire Department Air Operations base in Van Nuys into the team's headquarters for the NFL draft next week, which officials say will honor first responders who stopped January's devastating wildfires.
The Rams, with support from Zillow, will convert a room within LAFD Air Operations to serve as general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay's draft headquarters April 24-26, as well as an adjacent hangar to serve as space for coaches, scouts, team personnel and reporters who are on-site during the three-day event.
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LAFD confirmed its station will remain fully operational during the draft.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Los Angeles Rams for their unwavering support of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and our wildfire- impacted communities," Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said in a statement.
The Rams plan to renovate the LAFD Air Operation's recreation room, creating a more comfortable home-like space for firefighters to rest between call-outs during their 24-hour shifts. Recliners for the room will be provided by Rams partner Bob's Discount Furniture.
"The Rams' generosity -- renovating our station and recognizing our firefighters -- demonstrates a deep commitment to the city we all serve. We look forward to standing alongside the Rams in this meaningful event," Villanueva added.
On Day 2 of the draft, the Rams will welcome additional first responders from throughout the L.A. region who assisted with the wildfires for a chalk talk with McVay, the team's president Kevin Demoff and other executives.
"Drafting from LAFD Air Operations is a powerful reminder of what it means to represent Los Angeles," Demoff said in a statement. "Since the wildfires devastated our region in January, we have looked to bring LA together to help with the recovery efforts, raise the spirits of those impacts, and shine a light on our first responders."
"We are humbled to partner with LAFD during one of the NFL's biggest moments to express gratitude for those who risk their lives daily to protect our city," he added.
The Rams previously hosted two major distribution events for evacuated families, hosted football clinics for impacted youth, delivered meals to fire stations and base camps, and donated backpacks and merchandise. To date the team has donated nearly $2 million to fire relief efforts, including a $1 million donation from the Kroenke Family Foundation to LAFD foundation.
All three days of the 2025 NFL draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as two nights of primetime coverage on April 24 and 25.
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