A night meant for music and celebration turned violent at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, when a 66-year-old arena worker was viciously assaulted during an NBA YoungBoy concert on Sunday, September 21.
Thomas Schlange, a longtime usher at the venue, was reportedly attacked by a 14-year-old concertgoer after asking the teen to move to his assigned seat. What began as a routine request escalated into a shocking act of violence. Video footage captured by attendees shows the teenager throwing Schlange into a row of seats and repeatedly punching him in the head.
“I went down and had blows to my head,” Schlange told Fox 4 News. “He was so enraged, so we were just, in essence, trying to protect the fans.” Schlange suffered a broken nose and facial injuries, and his family fears the attack may worsen his pre-existing glaucoma.
Despite the severity of the incident, the teen was arrested and later released to his parents as the investigation continues. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas condemned the violence, and the T-Mobile Center called the attack “horrific,” emphasizing that it was an isolated incident.
🚫 Fallout: Concerts Canceled in Wake of Attack
In response to the assault and growing concerns over safety, the United Center in Chicago canceled its scheduled NBA YoungBoy concert, which was set to take place the following night. The venue issued full refunds to ticket holders and cited the Kansas City incident as the reason for the cancellation.
This marks a troubling moment for the rapper’s tour, which has already faced scrutiny over crowd control and security issues. While NBA YoungBoy has not publicly commented on the attack, the cancellation signals a shift in how venues may approach future bookings.
As Schlange recovers, his family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses. The incident has sparked widespread outrage online, with many calling for stricter enforcement of venue safety and accountability for violent behavior.
the cancellation of NBA YoungBoy’s Chicago concert at the United Center appears to be closely tied to his long-standing feud with Chicago rapper Lil Durk and his OTF crew. While the venue did not officially cite a reason, multiple sources and fan speculation point to safety concerns stemming from this rivalry.
The tension dates back to the 2020 killing of King Von, a close associate of Lil Durk, during an altercation involving affiliates of NBA YoungBoy. Since then, both rappers have exchanged diss tracks and veiled threats, fueling ongoing hostility. Lil Durk is currently incarcerated on charges related to a murder-for-hire plot targeting Quando Rondo, another YoungBoy affiliate.
The United Center had already implemented unusually strict security measures for the concert—including a ban on all bags, even clear ones—which many saw as a red flag. Just days before the show, the venue abruptly canceled the event and issued full refunds, sparking backlash from fans and YoungBoy’s team.
So while no official statement linked the cancellation directly to Lil Durk, the timing, history, and heightened security suggest the venue was trying to avoid potential conflict.