A resurfaced video from a December Dallas Stars home game has American Airlines Center officials scrambling to respond, after a small group of fans appeared to perform a Nazi salute during a goal celebration.
The clip, shot during the Stars’ Dec. 21 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, runs for about 18 seconds and shows several men in the upper deck moving in unison with the crowd and the team’s goal song. The footage, which began circulating again on Tuesday, has prompted arena management to launch an internal investigation into what exactly happened in those seats.
What the clip shows
According to The Dallas Morning News, the video first appeared on Reddit and shows a group of male Stars fans in the upper deck making what appears to be a Nazi salute in time with “Puck Off” by Pantera. The song serves as the team’s goal anthem and is routinely played after Dallas scores, as noted by Sporting News.
Arena response and fan code
Once the clip started circulating, a fan raised it with American Airlines Center officials. In a written reply later shared on Reddit, an arena representative said the venue has zero tolerance for any acts of hate and/or discrimination and confirmed that it is conducting an internal investigation.
The arena’s own rules back that up on paper. The American Airlines Center’s fan code of conduct bars disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language and obscene gestures, and warns that violators can be ejected without a refund and may face prosecution if their conduct breaks the law, according to the American Airlines Center’s fan code of conduct.
NHL policy and penalties
The league’s standards run along the same lines. The NHL’s Fan Code of Conduct prohibits language, gestures or behavior that demean identity-based characteristics. Anyone found in violation can face consequences that range from having their seat relocated or being ejected to suspension or even a lifetime ban from NHL events, under the policy outlined in the NHL Fan Code of Conduct.
The league also urges spectators to report incidents to guest services so arena staff and teams can respond quickly, according to the policy.
Fans' reports and online reaction
The fan who recorded the video told The Dallas Morning News that they documented the group and provided exact seat numbers to arena staff, but were later informed that staff could not locate the fans in question.
That account, paired with the footage itself, has fueled frustration online. Commenters on social media have urged American Airlines Center to issue bans and called on teams and venues to better monitor abusive behavior in upper-deck sections. Many users on Reddit have gone further, pushing for lifetime bans if the behavior is confirmed.
What comes next
For now, the arena says the review is still in progress. American Airlines Center officials have stated that guests who violate venue or league codes could face ejection, bans or legal consequences, depending on what the investigation turns up. The venue has said it will follow both its own policy and the NHL’s code in deciding any next steps.
