HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo returned to NRG Stadium on Thursday to review surveillance footage after she says she was shove by security at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Megan Moroney concert Tuesday night.
Rodeo Houston says Hidalgo and her guests tried to access a dirt-level area without the required wristbands and that staff asked her to return to her suite. Hidalgo says security shoved and threatened to arrest her when she was denied access to the dirt level area. Rodeo Houston has revoked her ex‑officio director status.
KPRC 2 News was there after Hidalgo watched the surveillance.
“They showed me I think all the footage available,” Hidalgo said.
Hidalgo said the available surveillance does not clearly show the moment she says security became physical.
“They have uh some views of the shoot that show me, but they’re not really, um I mean you can’t really make things out, because its very dark and its from the distance if you zoom in, its really grainy.”
Hidalgo read a prepared statement on her phone about the night, saying stadium surveillance included footage of her guests being escorted out.
Rodeo Houston says Hidalgo received more than 20 chute tickets earlier this season — seats that Rodeo officials say are valued at nearly $9,000 total — and that chute seats cost about $425 each. Rodeo officials say they told Hidalgo’s team on Tuesday they could not provide her dirt-level tickets before the sold-out concert because they were sold out and she had already been given several dirt tickets for previous concerts. Officials said she still tried accessing the dirt anyway.
Hidalgo released audio and video from the incident, saying the footage supports her account that security pushed her. The recordings do not physically show the alleged incident.
“You’re not letting me get proof of the fact that they pushed me,” said Lina.
A man is then heard saying, “this is not being manhandled.”
Rodeo officials say staff and security asked Hidalgo to return to her suite after she tried to access the dirt level without wristbands. Rodeo officials said officers on site did not witness a physical altercation and denied any discrimination.
“I think at this point, we’ve done all we can do and I hope that we can move forward from this. I sure plan to,” said Hidalgo.
Hidalgo said she hopes the dispute prompts Rodeo Houston to improve surveillance coverage in the chute area.