Officials for the City of Portland says they are reviewing a filmed confrontation in which women’s sports supporters were struck and forcibly removed from a publicly owned soccer stadium.
The city denied involvement in decisions concerning the spectators and an OutKick reporter, identifying the stadium operator and its subcontractors as responsible. It also said the operator’s agreement requires compliance with applicable laws.
“The City is reviewing,” officials told OutKick. “Decisions concerning the incident in question are handled by the Stadium Operator Peregrine, LLC and their subcontractors. The City was not involved in any decisions concerning the spectators or reporter.”
Asked whether the city approved policies governing XX-XY clothing, messages about transgender participation in sports, banners or press credentials, officials answered, “No.”
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“The Stadium Operating Agreement requires the Operator to not only implement a Security, Safety and Traffic Control plan but also comply with all applicable laws. The Ticket Terms and Conditions require all spectators comply with all rules, regulations, and policies of the Thorns, the NWSL and Peregrine Sports, including the Providence Park Guest Guide.”
Asked what explanation the operator had provided for the removals, and whether the city was examining consistent enforcement across spectators expressing different views, officials said they were still seeking information.
“The City is working with the Stadium Operator to receive more details about the incident,” the response stated.
The response comes as the Justice Department separately reviews the Oct. 23 incident at Providence Park for potential constitutional concerns.
“The Justice Department is aware of these reports and will review the matter thoroughly. Where the facts and the law warrant action, the Department will not hesitate to act,” a department spokesperson told OutKick.
A Justice Department official said that, based on information available so far, the described conduct appears to raise viewpoint discrimination and First Amendment questions rather than sex discrimination.
Friday’s confrontation began during the Portland Thorns’ match against the North Carolina Courage. Approximately 20 spectators kept their XX-XY Athletics shirts covered through the first half, then revealed them and displayed a large “Save Women’s Sports” banner at the start of the second half.
Footage captured members of the group being struck by other spectators, including with flagpoles carrying transgender flags, and being forcibly escorted out by security. The organizers included activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse.
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Officials cited Section 4 of the stadium operating agreement as the source of the operator’s authority, saying Section 4.3 requires implementation of a security, safety and traffic control plan.
They said the agreement requires the operator to comply with applicable laws, while ticket terms require spectators to follow the policies of the Thorns, NWSL and Peregrine Sports, including the stadium’s guest guide. The response did not identify which provision security applied during Friday’s confrontation.
Providence Park is city-owned and operated by Peregrine Sports. Portland’s Spectator Venues Program oversees the city’s interests in the facility and its relationship with the operator.
The First Amendment generally restricts government action, and a private organization does not automatically become a government actor simply because it holds a public contract. But government direction or joint participation can bring private conduct under constitutional scrutiny.
Portland also did not explicitly confirm whether it would request preservation of surveillance footage and incident reports or consider corrective action if misconduct or a contractual violation were established.
“The City will continue to engage with the Stadium Operator in accordance with the Stadium Operating Agreement,” officials said in response to that question.