The final's kickoff was delayed because fans without tickets reportedly stormed the gates. The harrowing images that followed that news were frighteningly reminiscent of scenes that preceded disasters like the crowd surge during 2015 Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea.
Fans unable to get through the gates resorted to creative means of entering the venue. Some even took to methods you'd expect to see in an Ocean's 11 movie, not a soccer match — such as crawling through what appeared to be ventilation ducts in order to gain access to Hard Rock Stadium.¡Portazo en la final!🙃
— TV Azteca Deportes (@AztecaDeportes) July 15, 2024
Lamentables imágenes en lo que debería de ser una fiesta total de la Copa América.
Las autoridades se han visto rebasadas por el número de aficionados que han asistido al #HardRockStadium #FinalDeVerano #LaSensacionDelVerano pic.twitter.com/ZUynVgInzf
One of the most intriguing things about sports is that after decades of competition, you can always see something you've never seen before. Feel free to file these images under that.
But not in a positive way.
Once fans did get inside — one way or another — the outcome was predictably chaotic. There were too many people and not enough seats. Those who had paid $1,500 up to more than $10,000 for seats confronted those without tickets who took advantage of a free-to-enter situation at the gates.⚠️🏟️ HUBO GENTE INGRESANDO AL ESTADIO POR EL SISTEMA SE VENTILACIÓN.pic.twitter.com/E3UaNqy3J7
— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) July 15, 2024
Bear in mind that the Miami venue that's hosting the Copa América final — i.e., one of the world's marquee sporting venues — is slated to host FIFA World Cup 2026 games, including the bronze medal final.
The situation was just as nuts on the concourse, and fans were seen on video swiping concessions. In one video, a group of spectators is seen breaking an oversized bag of popcorn and spilling it on the ground.Overcrowding in stadium now seems to be a concern. Stands appear to be stuffed to the gills. @FavianRenkel reporting fans are arriving at seats only to find fans already there, but security informing them that there is nothing to be done.pic.twitter.com/buAa6P09Ff
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 15, 2024
Hard Rock Stadium released a statement saying that in the afternoon and evening, "there were numerous attempts by unruly fans without tickets to overpower security and law enforcement personnel at entry points to the stadium, putting themselves, other fans and security and stadium staff at extreme risk."¿Por qué? ¿Por qué imbeciles? ¿Por qué hacen esto? pic.twitter.com/8g5bk7JxlH
— Beto Coral (@Betocoralg) July 15, 2024
"Various stadium gates were closed and re-opened strategically in an attempt to allow ticketed guests to enter safely and in a controlled manner. Fans continued to engage in illegal conduct — fighting police officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalizing the stadium, causing significant damage to the property," the statement reads.
Hard Rock Stadium reached capacity before all ticket holders were able to enter, and the gates were shut down. The stadium claims it will work on a solution for ticket holders who were unable to enter the venue.
There's likely plenty of blame to go around, and even if there isn't, blame and blame-denial will certainly make the rounds.
Judging from the way the tournament has unfolded thus far, many fingers will be pointed at the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL), the federation that organized the event.
