Copa America fans storm suite level at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of Argentina-Colombia

The start of the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia has been delayed due to issues with fans storming their way into the stadium, and measures to regain order appear to be mostly fruitless so far.

Video showed fans breaking into the suite level of Hard Rock Stadium, and various reports have emerged that stadium personnel was forced to open the gates due to concerns about potential crushing.

You can see several fans entering the suite level in the video below, with a handful stumbling and getting walked on briefly by fellow fans.

Here's a look at the current scene on the Suite Level inside Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the Copa América final, which has already been delayed:pic.twitter.com/M2y2luBMHc

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 15, 2024

Both the Miami-Dade Police Department and Hard Rock Stadium itself have issued press releases addressing the mess, which has delayed the start of the final.

“We have had several incidents prior to the gates opening at Hard Rock Stadium for the COPA America final game,” the Miami-Dade PD statement read. “These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium.

“We are asking everyone to be patient, and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel. We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all those attending. Unruly behavior will get you ejected and/or arrested. We have a ZERO TOLERANCE behavior against unruly conduct from everyone attending.”

Hard Rock Stadium also issued a press release about the issue.

“In anticipation of tonight’s Copa America Final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk. Security has shut down the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe.”

That appears to be what is happening now at the stadium, with various videos on social media showing fans entering the stadium in certain spots.

Not all of them were unruly, so the hope is that things settle fairly quickly and a start time can be established.

Argentina and Colombia were both warming up at one point inside Hard Rock Stadium, though those warmups were likely to be be delayed thanks to the start time of the Copa America final being pushed back.