Fla. Bar Owner Won't Buy NFL Sunday Ticket Package Because of Anthem Protests

Nick Kangadis | August 7, 2018
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The controversy surrounding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem before games won’t go away. People seem to be steadfast in their stance, whether they agree with the protests or not. Until the NFL makes a concrete decision regarding anthem behavior, this debate will never die.

A restaurant in Brooksville, Fla. recently told Fox 13 - Tampa Bay that they will no longer purchase multiple subscriptions to the DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket package, because of the blatant disrespect shown by players during the anthem.

“Last year, with the kneeling and the disrespect to our veterans and our flag and our country, I was very upset,” Beef O’Brady’s restaurant owner Curtis West said.

Even though the restaurant will lose the business they would’ve had by showing NFL games on Sundays, West said that his restaurant will save over $5,000 by not continuing to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket package.

Not only will West and co-owner Janet West save money on Sundays, but they are taking that savings and passing it on. Posters around the restaurant indicate that the West’s Beef O’Brady location will offer military veterans 40 percent off on food on Sundays.

“This is what we are doing, this is the stance we take,” Curtis West said, “and the money we would've spent, we are going to spend on our vets.”

According to Fox 13, the poster also read the following:

Beef O'Brady's will not be financially supporting the NFL this year due to their lack of compassion and gratitude for our American service members. Our National Anthem is one of the methods we as American citizens have always used to show our appreciation to all military service members, past or present, alive or dead. This tradition deserves respect and unfortunately, the NFL does not feel that same way. So, for this season, we will not be purchasing the NFL ticket. Perhaps, it will make a difference if it hits their wallets.

While Curtis West did acknowledge that the players protesting might not be protesting the veterans, he feels as though the protests are a slight to members of the military.

“The people that are doing the protests, I don't believe their intention is to disrespect our veterans but that is what has come from this,” West said.

People who disagree with the anthem protests have had to resort to protests of their own. But, as long as the NFL remains a wet noodle concerning anthem policy, they will continue to lose business.

Just make a damn decision already, NFL!

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