Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is the co-owner of the National Arena League’s Albany Empire, and on Sunday the team started the season with a dominant 70–33 win over the Orlando Predators. However, there appeared to be some drama outside of the game with Brown.
Brown posted a video of himself on the field of MVP Arena at halftime where he was interacting with some young fans, until a security guard can be heard repeatedly telling him to “get off the field right now.” Brown refused, saying, “We ain’t going nowhere.”
“You gotta go get some bigger muscles,” he told the security guard.
When the security guard said, “You’re going off the field right now,” Brown responded with “make me then.” Brown then told the guard to get off the field and informed them of his position.
“This my field,” he said. “I’m the owner.”
“I don’t think so,” the security guard responded.
Still I maintained a level of professionalism positivity while dealing with this security today ! First Game AS AN Owner #StayEncouraged pic.twitter.com/eU724PbHR6
— AB (@AB84) April 18, 2023
After Brown posted the video, general manager of MVP Arena, Bob Belber, told TMZ that Brown needed to exit the field for safety reasons. The team was lowering its 2022 championship banner and needed everyone to clear the area since it would be dangerous for people below. Belber added that Brown was trying to get the kids to come on the field during the standoff with security, putting them at risk as well.
Belber also said Brown used some “pretty aggressive” language to the security guard that was not caught in the video he posted to social media. But he finished by saying that Brown won’t be banned, adding, “It was a simple misunderstanding on his part—he shouldn’t have been down on the field.”
“I think we’ll get through this,” he said. “The parties will come together and I’m sure this won’t be repeated.”
In a recent interview with the Times Union, Brown stated that he is the sole owner of the team. But there appears to be some confusion on the matter.
“I’m the owner, 100% owner. I don’t take that lightly,” Brown told the Times Union Saturday afternoon. “My job as the owner [is] to provide the players and community, the front office, everyone that experience, the experience of Albany, and I’m excited about that role.”
The former wideout joined the franchise in March as a co-owner alongside Mike Kwarta, with Charlotte and Steve von Schiller as minority partners. Brown said he bought Kwarta out, adding, “I just think Mike couldn’t afford the things in regards of [moving] the business forward.”
However, Kwarta told the publication there has been no change in the franchise’s ownership since Brown first joined the organization. He says that he and Brown each own 47.5% of the team, while the von Schillers owning the remaining 5%.
