A dedicated season ticket holder for Saint Louis City SC, Michael Weitzel, was asked to leave Energizer Park last Saturday evening due to his red “Make America Great Again” hat, synonymous with President Donald Trump. Weitzel stated on KFTK’s Marc Cox Morning Show that he had no indication of any issue with his attire when entering the stadium and that the MAGA hat is his only red hat.
About 25 minutes before the match ended, stadium security informed Weitzel they had received a complaint about his hat and gave him the choice to either remove it or leave. He refused to take it off but described the encounter as respectful. According to Major League Soccer’s Fan Code of Conduct, symbols or images that threaten, abuse, discriminate, or advocate politically are prohibited. Weitzel said he does not believe his MAGA hat violated these rules.
He mentioned that a “strongly worded email” had been sent to management during the game, labeling his hat as offensive and dangerous. Security quickly identified the hat and called police to escort him out, although one of the officers was also a Trump supporter and treated Weitzel respectfully. Despite his stand on wearing the hat, he complied with the order to leave.
“Someone had taken the time to write a strongly worded email to management, letting them know how offensive and dangerous my speech was. And, you know, I think there was a little bit of confusion at first with what the problem actually was, but they quickly identified the hat and quickly sent some police officers to escort me out,” he explained.
While moving through the stadium, Weitzel noticed some hostile gestures and jeering but initially dismissed it, commenting on how political tensions seem to have really affected fans. He noted, however, having previously seen other politically charged apparel, such as “No Kings” shirts, and even saw LGBTQ+ Pride flags displayed on the day he was kicked out.
Weitzel shared a video on Instagram showing the incident, where he was seen fist-bumping one officer, drawing positive remarks for his politeness. While the experience has made him hesitant about committing to his three-year ticket plan, he said he still wants to support and see the team succeed. He hopes that the actions of a few complainers won’t stop him from enjoying the sport he loves.
On sharing the video, Weitzel told KFTK, “I wanted to… to let people know that this is what happens, uh, this is the world we live in right now.”