Hard Rock Stadium suffered ‘significant damage’ during Copa America chaos, Miami Dolphins claim after 27 arrests at team’s home field
The Miami Dolphins have discovered ‘significant damage’ to Hard Rock Stadium after Sunday’s Copa America final descended into utter chaos ahead of Argentina’s 1-0 win over Colombia.
As reported by the Miami Herald, areas of the NFL stadium were vandalized, but it remains unclear if there are any structural issues with the facility. The Dolphins, who own Hard Rock Stadium, are continuing to assess the situation. The building is scheduled to host World Cup matches in 2026, not to mention an upcoming Dolphins training camp practice as well as NFL and University of Miami games in the upcoming 2024 season.
It was a chaotic scene just hours before the scheduled 8pm start of the championship match between the two South American countries: Fans forced their way in and jumped over security railings and ran past police officers and stadium attendants, some appearing hysterical as they searched for the people they arrived with.
There appeared to be significant damage to the venue as a result. Video and images posted to social media showed the shattered side railings of an escalator inside the stadium, with shoes, soda cans, reading glasses and articles of clothing left behind. Security railings at a checkpoint in the southwest entrance to the stadium were bent over as thousands of people, including crying children, pushed against them.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes have since expressed their dismay.
‘We are outraged by the unprecedented events at tonight’s Copa America finals,’ the statement read. ‘The Copa America final is organized by CONMEBOL and Miami-Dade Police Department provides security support along with other law enforcement agencies. Tonight, MDPD assigned 550 officers to the stadium, including our Priority Response Team.
‘In addition, MDPD brought in more personnel from more jurisdictions to support everyone’s safety and wellbeing.’
Meanwhile CONMEBOL, the South American soccer governing body accused of mismanaging the 2024 Copa America, is pointing the finger at stadium officials in Miami after 27 people were arrested and another 55 were ejected in a wildly chaotic scene at Sunday’s tournament finale.
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‘CONMEBOL was subject to the decisions made by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, according to the contractual responsibilities established for security operations,’ the organization said in a statement on Monday after Argentina’s 1-0 win over Colombia a day earlier.
‘In addition to the preparations determined in this contract, CONMEBOL recommended to these authorities the procedures proven in events of this magnitude, which were NOT taken into account.
‘We regret that the acts of violence caused by malicious individuals have tarnished a final that was ready to be a great sports celebration,’ the statement concluded.
Dolphins spokespeople did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Miami-Dade County in Florida will review security protocol for the 2026 World Cup after more than two dozen fans were arrested at Sunday’s Copa America final, capping a tournament rife with discord.
