CALGARY — The Calgary Roughnecks lacrosse team says a Saskatchewan Rush fan who dresses up as the Incredible Hulk can come to this weekend's game, but he can't act as an opposition team mascot.
Known as Rush Hulk, superfan Kelvin Ooms had organized four busloads of fans from Saskatchewan as part of his routine before being told he wouldn't be able to wear his costume to Saturday's National Lacrosse League game in Calgary.
Roughnecks officials said Wednesday he can wear his Hulk costume as a fan, but not as an official — or unofficial — team mascot.
"Company policy (is) that mascots of opposition teams are not allowed in the building," said team vice-president Mike Moore. "We have our own mascots that are part of our entertainment and part of what we do.
"There's always a safety and security issue when you've got opposing fans and opposing mascots, and we want to protect all fans."
Moore said Ooms can wear his Hulk costume as long as he doesn't obstruct the view of other fans or behave like a mascot.
"When he came to us, he was going to have a handler, he needed a dressing room to dress in and he needed other things for his uniform and his act," said Moore. "That's just not something we allow."
Saturday's game is a "Star Wars" theme night, so other fans attending the lacrosse game are being encouraged to wear costumes.
Ooms said he's happy to hear he can wear his Hulk costume.
"It's kind of good news, but we would want clarification on the restrictions," he said. "The restrictions being placed on me aren't typical of an average fan at any kind of sporting event.
"I don't want to feel like a criminal in the seats."
Ooms said he would want to be able to interact with fans in his section who are on the bus tour.
The Roughnecks official said there's an obvious difference between a fan and a mascot.
"If he's got a drum, and he's going up and down the aisle and banging, getting 250 people going in their seats, that's a mascot," said Moore. "Fans can stand up and cheer and have fun with the group around them, absolutely.
"But we all know what a mascot looks like — this looks like a mascot, sounds like a mascot, and all of the requests we've had from him would appear that he's a mascot."
— By Colette Derworiz in Edmonton
The Canadian Press
