Portland denies approving policies behind removal of women’s sports supporters as Justice Department reviews stadium incident

Officials for the City of Portland, Oregon, say they are reviewing a filmed confrontation in which women’s sports supporters were struck and forcibly removed from the publicly owned Providence Park soccer stadium. The city said it was not involved in the decisions concerning those spectators.

The incident took place on Friday, October 23, 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 organisers included activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse.

‘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.’

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 and compliance with all applicable laws. The ticket terms and conditions require all spectators to 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 also did not explicitly confirm whether it would request preservation of surveillance footage and incident reports. ‘The City will continue to engage with the Stadium Operator in accordance with the Stadium Operating Agreement,’ officials said.

The Justice Department separately reviews the October 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.

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.