The Copa América Final between Argentina and Columbia was delayed prior to kickoff in Miami, as it was reported that thousands of fans were stuck outside of the Hard Rock Stadium entrance gates ahead of the match, after there was a security breach.
As the security struggled to handle the flow of incoming spectators, an hour before a scheduled 8 pm kickoff time, all stadium gates were closed, which led to the game being pushed back to 9:15 pm.
In regards to what exactly was causing the complications, the Miami-Dade police noted that there were "several incidents prior to the gates opening... a result of unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium."
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) July 14, 2024
Fans were evidently stuck outside the stadium, not being allowed to enter, as the situation got pretty bad. To point out, there were actually multiple people reportedly passed out from heat exhaustion and being run over, as well as some bloodied from police, in what was viewed as a very distressing scene to say the least.
Another woman had passed out. These people have now been here for roughly 90 minutes pic.twitter.com/kM5eV42QTG
— Jack Lang (@jacklang) July 14, 2024
The only solution that the organizers could come up with was to allow everyone in, without checking the tickets. And this assuredly resulted in those without tickets being let in, who then proceeded to storm the main concourse, which led to police chases.
Update: Arrests being made at the Copa America final after dozens of people stormed security at Hard Rock Stadium😳| #ONLYinDADE #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/2ie6jL1Y8L
— ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) July 14, 2024
BREAKING: The gates at Hard Rock Stadium have been breached and scores of fans have begun streaming in for the 2024 #CopaAmerica final. Police are scrambling to try and stem the flow of people. pic.twitter.com/fkoMMYGk8K
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
As a result of the security breach, police were on high alert and starting tackling fans who they thought to be in the wrong.
A man with credentials who went through the media entrance was taken to the ground and has been cuffed pic.twitter.com/fMfMQF8zv5
— Jake Fenner (@jakefenner_) July 14, 2024
After all this, the stadium gates were closed and this led to many fans, who paid for the Copa América final tickets, being locked out.
A better view from above the Southwest Gate at Hard Rock Stadium. Very concerning having that many people in that small a space. I’m told by a Miami-Dade PD officer that all gates into stadium are closed for the time being. #CopaAmerica2024 pic.twitter.com/HkWNFgcmwn
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 14, 2024
There appear to be people crawling through the Hard Rock Stadium vents at the Copa América finalpic.twitter.com/h1XAr6tU4E
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 15, 2024
Since fans paid hundreds and thousands of dollars to watch the game, they were trying to enter the stadium by any means necessary, and this resulted in many trying to get into the vents of the stadium in order to gain access.
“I paid over 2,000 dollars for a ticket”
Security let in thousands of fans with and without tickets then closed gates, leaving some fans with tickets , outside. Conmebol are shameless!!!#CopaAmerica #CopaAmerica2024 pic.twitter.com/cADWNDR6MH
— Gerardo Tavarez (@gerardoTBTP) July 15, 2024
The spokesperson for the HardRock Stadium released a statement on the whole ordeal during halftime.
NEW statement from Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson on allowing fans to enter Copa final without tickets scanned:
“In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, the decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to…
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) July 15, 2024
When many of the fans finally got to their seats, it was discovered that they were taken by others, and apparently there was no solution for this.
Many fans are arriving at their seats and people are already in them. The security are telling people they can do nothing about it. #CopaAmerica
— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) July 15, 2024
