NFL’s Hard Rock Stadium and soccer organizations CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are facing class action lawsuits due to the disaster that happened prior to the Copa America Final game against Argentina and Colombia.
The chaos of the crowd delayed the game one hour and more than two dozen people were arrested leaving hundreds of people injured.
On July 14th, chaos happened with out-of-control crowds breaching the security gates of Hard Rock Stadium. Thousands of people who did not purchase a ticket to the Final game stormed into the stadium leaving fans who did purchase tickets being denied at the gate for entry.
NFL: Hard Rock Stadium Class Action Lawsuit and Damages At Copa America FInal Argentina vs Colombia
A fan named Das Nobel spoke with NBC6 after the game saying that his family and hundreds of other families were stranded and denied entry into the stadium. Nobel’s family traveled from Dallas to Miami and spent over $7,000 on tickets. Nobel also recalls seeing thousands of people let in through security checks without a ticket.
“The Complaint seems redress for a class of invitee fans who paid money to attend Copa America FInal at Hard Rock Stadium but were denied entry because of failure to implement security protocols that resulted in mass chaos.”
Other fans are also filing lawsuits not just for the tickets they purchased and denied entry but for the injuries they endured during the out-of-control crowds breaching the gates into the stadium.
Not only were fans injured during this uncalled-for chaos caused by fans, but Hard Rock Stadium suffered damage and vandalism. The Miami Dolphins own Hard Rock Stadium and they report the stadium suffered significant damages and are continuing to assess the stadium. The worst area of damage was in the premier ’72 Club Area.
Hard Rock Stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes. It hosts not only NFL and NCAA games but has also held concerts, Super Bowls, and it is set to host the World Cup in 2026.
Concerns rise for when Hard Rock Stadium does host the World Cup in 2026. The Miami Dolphins do not want this to happen to their stadium again and the city of Miami does not want out-of-control crowds. The World Cup is the biggest soccer tournament in the World and the city of Miami and Hard Rock Stadium needs to do a better job with crowd control.
The World Cup crowds are expected to be large with fans coming into Miami from all over the world at this tournament. Fans, also need to understand if they do not have a ticket they cannot enter a match.
