Woman kicked out of Fargodome after using men's bathroom, she says

FARGO-When Samantha Bergh headed for the Fargodome Sunday, May 7, for the Garth Brooks concert, the Mother's Day gift from her husband was to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see her "absolute favorite singer."

But during the break between the opening act and when Brooks took the stage, Bergh needed to use the restroom.

The lines for the women's restrooms were long, so she decided to use the men's restroom, Bergh said Wednesday, May 11.

She said she walked into the men's restroom with her husband, Michael.

She kept her head down, used the facilities and walked out again with her head still looking down, Bergh said.

She said at that point she was immediately confronted by a female Fargodome security officer who demanded that she surrender her ticket and leave the Fargodome.

Bergh said she complied without causing a problem.

"She (the security officer) wanted me out the door right away," said Samantha Bergh, who lives in Lake Park, Minn.

A Fargo police officer who was with the security officer waited for Michael Bergh to leave the restroom and he, too, was asked to leave the Fargodome.

Bergh said she complained to Fargodome management about how she was treated and she has asked for a refund. She said she was told the matter will be investigated.

Rob Sobolik, the general manager of the Fargodome, confirmed Wednesday that someone was ejected from the venue leading up to the Garth Brooks concert Sunday evening due to a restroom issue, but he declined to discuss specifics of the incident. He said the incident is still being reviewed.

In general, he said, men are required to use the men's restrooms and women the women's restrooms, unless an event requires that expanded restroom capacity be given to a particular gender, in which case the change is made clear.

Sobolik said no such accommodations were necessary for Sunday's concert.

He said in situations where bathroom/gender issues arise, the standard procedure is for Fargodome staff to wait until a person leaves a restroom. At that point, the person is warned not to do it again or they could face possible ejection.

Bergh said she doesn't see her dispute with the Fargodome as having anything to do with the current national discussion regarding gender and restrooms.

Her personal view on the matter: As long as there are stalls to lend privacy, "What's the problem?"

Bergh said she is washing her hands of the Fargodome. When her husband offered to take her to the upcoming Blake Shelton concert, she declined.