Does Blackhawks jersey ban violate the First Amendment? It depends, law prof says

[mikita's helmet]

Chicago Blackhawks fans who are lucky enough to snag tickets for the Stanley Cup Finals at the Amalie Arena in Tampa will be barred from wearing team apparel if their seats are in exclusive club seating areas.

The policy, along with another restricting ticket purchases to credit cards associated with Florida zip codes, is raising hackles among Blackhawks fans. The ban on team apparel is also raising First Amendment issues, according to Florida International University law professor Howard Wasserman, who spoke with the Chicago Tribune.

Amalie Stadium is publicly owned and the First Amendment would apply to its actions, Wasserman said. He sees a potential problem if the ban on Blackhawks gear applied throughout the stadium.

He notes that the ban only applies to certain sections, however. “While troubling (and stupid),” he told the Tribune in an email, “if that involves only a relatively small portion of the arena and only a relatively small part of the seats, it may be permissible. Certainly more so than a blanket ban on anyone wearing Blackhawks gear.”

Does Blackhawks jersey ban violate the First Amendment? It depends, law prof says
http://www.abajournal.com/news/arti...urce=maestro&job_id=150603AV&utm_medium=email

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Slow day in news, eh?

 

[Mitchapalooza]

We should ask Crystallas for an explanation.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Slow day in news, eh?

Pretty exciting, Constitutionally.
:elephant: :X :elephant:

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

We should ask Crystallas for an explanation.

Sup Velma... did you find the bad guys yet?

RUT ROH RAGGY

 

[Mitchapalooza]

Sup Velma... did you find the bad guys yet?

RUT ROH RAGGY

Your jokes are bad and you should feel bad

 

[italianbeef]

Is Amelie Arena publicly owned?

Their house, their stupid rules.

 

[Jailbreak]

It's hard for me to believe the NHL doesn't address this. It's not in their interest at all. I'd feel exactly the same way about the United Center.

 

[HeHateMe]

This isnt a pump up thread.

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

Is Amelie Arena publicly owned?

Their house, their stupid rules.

Does not matter if it is publicly owned, you are paying to attend a private event with stipulations attached. Talking to a lawyer that I sail with and has actual cases of 1st Amendment violations, this challenge would hold about as strongly as a "no shirt, no shoes, no service"

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

It's hard for me to believe the NHL doesn't address this. It's not in their interest at all. I'd feel exactly the same way about the United Center.

Bettman already did and basically said it was not big deal.


Personally I think it is stupid, but this is not the only team or sport that has put in some of these type of rules. For most it is a safety thing given how "passionate" the fans are about their rivalries. This is not a safety thing, but having those that are paying some of the higher prices to not need to "deal" with fans from the other team. Me, personally, I love talking to other fans and I love when they come into the Stadium Club. I have yet to meet one that is a complete ass. Probably because the cost of those seats are not cheap to begin with.

 

[italianbeef]

Does not matter if it is publicly owned, you are paying to attend a private event with stipulations attached. Talking to a lawyer that I sail with and has actual cases of 1st Amendment violations, this a challenge would hold about as strongly as a "no shirt, no shoes, no service"

Yeah, my premise was wrong. I agree with you. It's a private matter.

 

[DMelt36]

I feel like Tampa is probably within their rights to do this based on something that's in the fine print on the tickets you need to enter the building.

 

[DrGonzo]

To me this is in the same spectrum as, for example, pumping extra crowd noise through the PA system. It may be technically legal but it certainly doesn't seem right. I wonder if you smuggled in a Blackhawks jersey and revealed it during the game, would they drag your ass out?

 

[Sunbiz1]

"restricting ticket purchases to credit cards associated with Florida zip codes"

Apparently they fail to realize half of Tampa are snowbirds from the Midwest...Chicago in particular.

 

[CRM 114]

To me this is in the same spectrum as, for example, pumping extra crowd noise through the PA system. It may be technically legal but it certainly doesn't seem right. I wonder if you smuggled in a Blackhawks jersey and revealed it during the game, would they drag your ass out?

I don't' know about the NHL but in the NFL it is illegal. The Atlanta Falcons lost draft picks this off season for doing it.

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

"restricting ticket purchases to credit cards associated with Florida zip codes"

Apparently they fail to realize half of Tampa are snowbirds from the Midwest...Chicago in particular.

Pretty sure most of those snowbirds are homesteaded there, for tax reasons, and as such have most if not all CCs registered to that FL address.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Pretty sure most of those snowbirds are homesteaded there, for tax reasons, and as such have most if not all CCs registered to that FL address.

Of course they do, the point was restricting tic sales to zip codes won't do anything to keep them out.

It only makes Tampa look like they cannot fill their own stadium...like Nashville.

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

Of course they do, the point was restricting tic sales to zip codes won't do anything to keep them out.

It only makes Tampa look like they cannot fill their own stadium...like Nashville.

That it sure does!

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

Refusing ticket sales based on where a person lives seems like discrimination.