The CEO of Professional Bull Riders is furious and now speaking out after managers at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina refused to allow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection honor guard to enter their building on Friday night.
The Spectrum Center (formerly Time Warner Cable Arena) is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
“Unwavering support of the US military, and starting all PBR events with a proud and respectful presentation of the American flag and our national anthem, have been part of the sport’s DNA since it was founded,” said PBR chief Sean Gleason.
Gleason says the uniformed agents, who are part of a unit of the Dept. of Homeland Security, were supposed to serve as honor guard and display the American flag during the national anthem. But apparently the managers at the arena had an issue with the agents carrying firearms, so a standoff ensued. Gleason says they had an “agenda.”
“It seemed very clear to me after 1½ hours that this was a situation in which a ‘policy’ that has merit on the surface was being used to go beyond both reason and the law to force an agenda,” Gleason wrote in a Facebook post.”
A PBR spokesperson said Border Patrol members present the colors at all PBR events and they’ve never encountered a situation like this before.
Gleason told Sporting News, “What should have been a two-minute conversation with the GM of the building turned into a 1½ hour runaround involving lawyers and the most insane arguments and reasoning I have ever heard.”
The PBR head said he was very close to cancelling the event, when the arena suggested a Charlotte police officer escort the federal agents into the building. The show went on after a slight delay.
Gleason initially vowed not to return to the venue after what happened Friday night, but PBR did come back on Saturday and the show reportedly “went off without a hitch.”
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What the hell is happening to our country ????
Well, all I can say is fuk Charlotte for their stupidity, and then fuk PBR for caving.
I don’t think PBR “caved” as much as they faced huge penalties, refunds and fan alienation if they canceled the show. But you can bet they will not be back at that venue.
It sounds to me that the venue needs new management and the people of North Carolina need to speak up about this Bullshit. As a retired military service member and a LEO I am surprised and appalled by the nonsense this country is experiencing.
I’d have been happy to admit LEOs but the glorified WalMart Greeters (DHS) can’t take three running jumps and go straight to hell. I wouldn’t have let them in either.
CBP Officers and Border Patrol are LEO’S.
Seems to me like this little tail as butthurt because it couldn’t wag the dog.
Don’t confuse the CBR with the TSA.
Hello….If you want a Law Enforcement agency to do colors they will be armed….Dumbass….
As a North Carolinian, I am embarrassed by many recent actions by the Queen City. I guess they have let the liberals take over…..so sad!!!!
Standoff in Charlotte:
Arena staff bars US Federal Officers in Color Guard from entering event. Liberal agenda…
PC culture gone wild.
http://heatst.com/culture-wars/bullst-top-bull-ride-nearly-canceled-because-officers-forming-color-guard-were-bearing-arms/