The Arizona Cardinals franchise has recently issued an apology to a steadfast supporter who was mistakenly told to remove her ‘Make America Great Again’ cap before attending a match against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. The organization affirmed its apology and clarified the misunderstanding during a conversation with Fox News Digital. A single miscommunication from a member of the stadium’s security led to this regrettable situation, wherein the staff member misinterpreted the rules regarding items disallowed at the venue.
Most stadiums, State Farm included, have a list of prohibited items, largely including banners, posters, or displays that carry a political message. However, this policy was misapplied in the current scenario. The team has assured that going forward, the policy will be made clearer to all stadium staff to avoid any such misunderstanding in the future.
The organization also confirmed that they reached out directly to the fan affected, explaining that her experience was not in alignment with the venue’s standard practices. They expressed their regret over what transpired and issued a sincere apology. The individual, Susan Rosener, is a resident of Arizona and a season ticket holder for the Cardinals.
Along with her husband, Rosener was en route to their seats, expecting to enjoy the Cardinals’ spectacular 41-10 triumph over the Rams. However, they faced an unwanted hiccup as a stadium employee incorrectly requested the removal of her hat, a well-known emblem of former President Trump’s campaign. This account of events comes from various sources, including News 12 Phoenix.
“That’s not allowed here,” was the staff member’s comment, as recalled by Rosener. “She clarified, ‘No political apparel, hats or shirts.’ I contested, ‘I’ve never heard such a rule.’ I argued, ‘That doesn’t make sense to me.’ Then she insisted, ‘Take your hat off.'” Reflecting on the then uncertain situation, Rosener expressed her reluctance to be confrontational at the time, fearing what the consequences could be, particularly on her season tickets.
This unfortunate incident came to light through the endeavors of Turning Point Action Field Rep. VP Alyssa Goncales, who posted alleged discussion screenshots with other attendees. According to these messages, other fans too were allegedly either asked to remove similar hats or witnessed the situation first hand. The Cardinals have emphasized they have direct knowledge of only one such incident – that involving Susan Rosener.
In their response to these broader allegations, the team stated, “We have only heard from one individual. But if there were a couple others that had a similar interaction that should not have happened either. It’s not our practice and in the 18+ seasons we’ve been in this stadium, it apparently has never occurred previously. Moving forward, we will work with all of the third party groups that interact with our fans to make sure this abundantly clear.”
Although State Farm Stadium does enforce a list of prohibited items that could mar the spirit of game days, ‘political hats or shirts’ are not listed. Regrettably, the recent event is not isolated in its nature. Throughout spring and summer of 2021, there were instances of attendees at various American sports events being asked to stow away pro-Trump merchandise by security.
One such case involved Dion Cini, removed from MLB games at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Citizens Bank Park for displaying ‘Trump Won! Save America!’ banners from the stands. Mr. Cini, who now wields influence as a conservative political commentator, shared footage of his multiple police escorts from these stadiums. In June 2021, Cini shared an alleged letter from MLB informing him of his indefinite ban from their games.
Cini had his say about the recent Rosener incident in a conversation with Fox News Digital. “That’s just the way our nation has turned out, compounded by the fact that because Ms. Rosener complied without protest, it emboldened them to make such requests. It’s an encapsulation of the current state of America,” commented Cini. In contrast, he added vehemently, “I’ve never deigned to remove my MAGA hat without coercion. They’d have to threaten me with dire consequences to get me to do that.”
Arizona’s status as one of the ‘sunbelt’ battleground states in the approaching elections adds an interesting context to the incident. The state was won by Trump in the 2016 elections, but the 2020 vote went the other way. In the forthcoming Arizona Senate race, Democrat Ruben Gallego is leading Republican Kari Lake with a 56%-41% margin. Meanwhile, Senate races in Nevada show similar trends with Democrat Jacky Rosen leading Republican Sam Brown by 55%-41%.
This situation hasn’t passed unnoticed by Kari Lake. In the wake of the episode, Lake has raised a call to all Cardinals fans to show their solidarity by donning their MAGA hats at the team’s home games for the rest of the season. In response to a news report about the incident, Lake expressed her feelings on the matter via a social media post.
Meanwhile, concerns related to potential fraudulent voting in the upcoming election have escalated in Arizona. Uncertainties over an unfortunate ‘coding oversight’ in the state’s election software that abruptly cast doubt upon the citizenship status of 100,000 registered voters, have raised eyebrows. However, the state’s Democratic secretary of state has pledged to send these voters their ballots regardless.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes defended the move during a news conference, “I am not willing to disenfranchise this many voters by limiting them, suddenly, and with little notice, to a federal-only ballot when no warning or fault was assigned to this matter. This issue came to us as an inheritance. Be assured, we’re on it and we’re going to resolve it. It’s that straightforward.”
In conclusion, the event of Rosener’s unfortunate encounter at the football game serves to highlight the compelling intersection of sports, politics, and people’s right to express their views. As organizations strive for clarity and consistency in their policies, fans are reminded that their respect for other spectators’ political affiliations may perhaps be the greatest show of sportsmanship.
Even after the match is over and fans return home, the echoes of this incident resonate, continuing the conversation on free speech, political expressions, and the confluence of private and public spaces. As Arizona prepares for upcoming political races, these issues are likely to remain at the forefront of public consciousness.