There are definitely Irish flags in the MGM Grand Garden Arena tonight but it would be fair to say that there’s definitely fewer of them.
Rumours began circulating at the very beginning of the UFC 196 Fight Pass prelims that Irish fans on their way into the arena were having their flags taken away from them.
One such Irish fan is Dubliner Stephen Day who claimed that security took his tricolour away as he entered the MGM.
“They took one look at it and told me I wasn’t bringing it in,” Stephen told SportsJOE.
“There was a girl behind us who had hers in her bag and another security guard spotted it and said ‘keep that in there.’
“It’s just weird. I’ve been here for UFC 189 and UFC 178, as well as the Dublin cards, and there was no issue with the flags.
“Word kind of got out in the queue and people started stuffing them into their pockets because surely it’s fair enough that fans who have travelled all this way want to proudly show off Ireland’s colours.”
It’s understandable that flags on poles or sticks are not allowed into the arena but Stephen insisted that his flag was not attached to anything.
“Mine was loose. I just feel bad for the fans who have spent money and can’t bring their flags inside.
“There was one father and son as we came in who didn’t want to just leave their flag behind when they were told that they couldn’t bring it in.
“The son travelled all the way back to New York, New York to bring their flag back to their room and he could end up missing a fight or two because of that.”
We pulled a member of the MGM’s Guest Relations team aside and he insisted that there was no protocol in place to deny fans of their flags.
“I would say that that is all rumour because we have absolutely no policy like that.”
Absolute disgrace at #UFC196. Taking Irish flags from fans. None allowed in the arena. We're paying enough to them as it is.
— Richard Barrett (@RichieBarrett) March 6, 2016
No flags allowed in MGM arena tonight. All Irish being turned away with flags. @danawhite @arielhelwani @jeremybotter @PaulDollery #UFC196
— Des Barry (@A_Great_Human) March 5, 2016
We are here! Pity they are taking Irish fans flags and banners! @SteDay88 @danawhite #UFC196 #McGregor pic.twitter.com/3s7IFvBBHU
— Aisling Riordan (@AislingRiordan1) March 6, 2016
@ufc @John_Kavanagh @danawhite @SportsJOEdotie taking flags off the Irish fans tryna enter the arena. What a joke
— Ste Day ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (@SteDay88) March 6, 2016
