Edmonton Oilers say viral fan ejection had nothing to do with Alberta flag
The Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) have released a statement after a fan was allegedly ejected from a recent game for waving an Alberta flag.
In the days following Saturday’s 3-1 Oilers victory over the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place, a video of a fan being kicked out of the arena has been passed around on social media. The video depicts two Edmonton Police officers in a heated exchange with a man in an Oilers jersey, with the words “Alberta flag” repeatedly being said.
The situation eventually escalates to the point where three officers have to subdue the man before ultimately escorting him out of the Rogers Place stands.
Since then, the video has circulated on social media, with many accounts calling out Rogers Place and the Oilers for allegedly kicking the fan out for simply waving an Alberta flag.
Offside reached out to OEG for comment on the situation and received a statement from Stu Ballantyne, president and COO of Rogers Place and ICE District. He says the Alberta flag had nothing to do with why the fan was ejected.
“During the Oilers game on Oct. 3 at Rogers Place, security staff responded to concerns about a guest who was repeatedly disrupting nearby fans and blocking their view,” Ballantyne said. “As staff worked to address the disruption, the guest used inappropriate and offensive language toward security staff and police officers, and was ultimately removed from the venue.
“The removal was based on his conduct and its impact on fans around him — not the flag.”
An Edmonton Oilers fan was arrested and removed from the game after waving an Alberta flag.
Serious question: do you think the same thing happens if he’s waving a Canadian flag? pic.twitter.com/l59SbugKYa
— Rise Of Alberta (@RiseOfAlberta) October 7, 2026
It’s notable to point out that there is no visible Alberta flag seen in the video, which was initially shared to a pro-Alberta separation Facebook group called WexitMovement.com.
The video spawned all sorts of backlash, with people accusing the Oilers and Rogers Place of stifling free speech or attempting to take a political stance on Alberta’s upcoming provincial referendum, which includes a separation question.
Ballantyne instead pointed to the fans’ behaviour as the driving factor in the ejection.
“Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone at Rogers Place,” Ballantyne concluded the statement.
That seems to fall in accordance with the arena’s “Fan Code of Conduct,” which says that fans may be asked to leave Rogers Place if they display any “disruptive behaviour, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.”
There is also a section within the arena’s rules that prohibits “signs, flags, or banners exceeding 11 inches x 17 inches” and says that any allowed items must be relevant to the event taking place at Rogers Place. As such, the rules clearly say that “management reserves the right to prohibit or remove a sign or banner at any time.”