It isn’t surprising that tensions were high between Winnipeg and Las Vegas fans Friday as Game 4 got underway, but there were some unexpected accessory altercations outside T-Mobile Arena.
Security were reportedly confiscating Canadian flags, posters, capes and Jets gear upon entry to the game in the NHL Western Conference Final series.
“It’s unfortunate that our experience turned sour when we made our way through security with our flags and sign,” Laura Thompson said. “As we went through security, they told us we couldn’t wear our flags as capes, and couldn’t bring them into the arena.”
Thompson said the Golden Knights fans beside them, who were also wearing flags, were let in without an issue.
“(The security guard) told me that I now couldn’t leave the arena or else I couldn’t get back in, so he would need to throw them out,” she said.
Thompson said she managed to go and speak with another security guard afterwards who went and retrieved their flags and gave them bag and allowed them to be brought inside.
However, another Winnipeg Jets fan, Lori Black, had a similar situation that did not end so well, when she said a security guard threw out her Canadian flag.
“He made us tear our posters in half and throw our flag in the garbage” she said. “He told us it can’t come in the building.”
Black said she told the security guard she would not throw away the Canadian flag and asked if there was somewhere it could be left and picked up after the game.
“He walked over and got one of the big garbage cans and he put it down in front of me and said throw it away,” Black said. “It’s so disrespectful. That really was upsetting.”
Black was with three other people who said they couldn’t believe what was going on.
“He pulled over a trash container and threw the Canadian flag into the trash container,” Neal Stone said. “It’s really the T-Mobile staff. They should be coached.”
“People we were sitting with, we told them what happened. The Vegas fans that heard us talking couldn’t believe that that had happened.”
Global News has reached out to the Golden Knights who are now reviewing video and photos of the alleged incident with the security staff.
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