Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was informed in advance that she would not be allowed into the sold-out premium viewing area during Tuesday’s concert at NRG Stadium, rodeo leadership said in a statement Thursday.
The county judge was escorted from the arena on Tuesday night after being denied access to a premium area along with guests. Following the incident, the judge wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post that she was “roughly treated” by security.
Thursday’s statement was signed by Rodeo Board of Governors Chairman Pat Mann Phillips and President and CEO Chris Boleman. The pair said Hidalgo was the only elected official in Houston or Harris County this year to require “any level of ticketing,” let alone a $425 premium “slide” ticket that allows access to the arena’s dirt floor near the concert stage.
A rodeo statement said Hidalgo and her guests had obtained 21 slide tickets for three previous shows, with a total value of about $9,000, but the tickets were sold out Tuesday.
The judge acknowledged that her office did not receive the wristbands typically distributed to slide ticket holders on Tuesday, but said she was not required to wear one at previous shows and said she was not told the dirt area was off limits that night.
Phillips and Borman also called Hidalgo’s suggestion Tuesday that her treatment was due to her race or gender “false and insulting.”
“We are deeply disappointed in Judge Hidalgo’s actions on Tuesday night and since. But we must enforce the same access policy for everyone. The judge is the only elected official who demands or even demands these seats night after night,” the letter reads.
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Although rodeo staff initially asked Hidalgo to return to his original seat in the county-owned suite at the stadium, According to a transcript of the incident Hidalgo shared with the media, security escorted her from the arena after she refused to comply with their instructions. The approximately 12-minute recording captures an exchange between Hidalgo and rodeo staff, including Borman.
“The bottom line is, this ticket is sold out,” Borman said in the recording. “I have a fire chief question tonight, I have a lot to do. You don’t have a ticket on the dirt. You have a ticket on the suite.”
Elected officials often get free access to stadium shows through county suites, and Hidalgo had tickets to get into the area on Tuesday. Those with premium “slide” tickets can set up lawn chairs on the arena floor near the concert stage for a viewing experience similar to courtside tickets to basketball games.
Among her guests Tuesday was West University Mayor Susan Samples, who brought her twin daughters. Hidalgo told rodeo staff she attended the concert because Samples’ daughters are fans of Tuesday’s performer, Megan Moroney, a country music performer popular with Gen Z and teen audiences.
Towards the end of the recording, Hidalgo attempts to return to the dirt area to look for “witnesses” corroborating her allegation that security guards “roughly treated” her. In the video, Hidalgo becomes increasingly active as officials prevent her from entering the arena. A staff member then asked for additional security to escort her out.
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The rodeo said in a news release Thursday that “numerous law enforcement officers were present” Tuesday night but that no one saw Hidalgo being “roughly treated.”
Hidalgo repeatedly accused rodeo staff of sexism in the recording. During the interview with Borman, the recording captured Hidalgo believing that male officers would not receive the same treatment.
“(Security) wouldn’t talk like that to the mayor, (security) wouldn’t talk like that to Ed Emmett,” Hidalgo told Borman, apparently referring to Mayor John Whitmire and her predecessor, Judge Emmett.
“They wouldn’t come here without a pass,” Borman replied.
This article was originally published on Officials say Lena Hidalgo was told ahead of time she had no chance at senior rodeo before controversy arose.
