Michael Weitzel, a committed season ticket holder for St. Louis City SC, was escorted from Energizer Park on July 26 after refusing to remove a red “Make America Great Again” hat during a Major League Soccer game. Stadium security cited the team’s fan code, which bans unapproved political symbols.
Officials told Weitzel he had three options: remove the hat, store it in his car, or leave. He chose departure and filmed the interaction, which quickly went viral online. Despite protests from other fans, he refused to comply with the request, asserting his belief in free expression.
Security confirmed to Weitzel that while they enforce the policy, he was not targeted personally—one guard even admitted being a Trump supporter himself. Complaints supporting his removal reportedly came from other spectators.
Weitzel later expressed disappointment, noting he’s invested in a multi-year ticket package and fears public spaces are becoming less tolerant of differing political views. He questioned whether similar political messaging is enforced evenly, and raised concerns about whether private clubs should moderate individual speech.