The Copa America Mess in Miami

The final match in this important regional soccer tournament turned out to be an embarrassment for host country United States when some fans entered the stadium without tickets, causing delays, health concerns for fans waiting in the stifling heat and damage to the facility. Why did this happen? And what can be done before the U.S. hosts the bulk of the 2026 World Cup tournament? Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.

Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional Production: Jeffrey Haynes Artwork: Pamela V. White Marketing: Michelle Miller Music: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Episode Transcript

(00:06):
Hello and welcome
to the Sports Business Podcast with Prof.
C, the podcast that exploresthe world of professional,
collegiate, amateur and Olympic sports.
I'm Mark Conrad or Prof.
C from Fordham University's Gabelli Schoolof Business, where I serve as Professor

(00:27):
of Law and Ethics and the Directorof the Sports Business Initiative.
Given the logistics of fans entering
and exiting a facilitywith finite numbers of seats
and the potential for exuberant fanscoming,
security concerns are significant.

(00:47):
And in our era of potential terrorist
threats,it is not uncommon for patrons to wait
to get to metal detectorsand pocket searches.
All this makes what happened
at the final game of Copa America,the leading regional soccer tournament
in the Western Hemisphere so distressing.

A quick summary: The final match took place (01:09):
undefined
between Argentina and Colombiaat Hard Rock Stadium near Miami.
According to a number of reports,thousands of fans without tickets
tried to enter the stadiumand more than a few were successful.
Some rushed through security and othersentered through air vents to get in.

(01:34):
After the
breach, the entrance gates were closed,leading to large crowds
and pushing and shovingin the almost unbearably hot weather.
According to a report in The Athletic,with the sun beating down,
fans pushed toward the closed gates,causing a crush.
There were few visible barriersto disperse the people trying to get

(01:58):
in, nor were there ways to ease the flow.
When the gates opened slightly,the fans swelled forward
and security closed the gates again,with several people stuck outside
saying they had no idea what was going on.
Peoplefainted, and others, with tickets as high
as $2,000 in the resalemarket, could not get in.

(02:21):
Others did get inand found other patrons in their seats.
Some fans fought policeand security personnel,
and others caused damage to the stadium.
Despite a thrilling Argentina win
in extra time, everyone else lostand a reckoning
is needed and fast because this countrywill host the World Cup

(02:44):
with far more teams,many more stadiums, and many more fans.
Thus far,there seems to be a shifting of blame.
CONMEBOL,the South American soccer federation
hosting the event, blamed Miami-DadeCounty.
Miami-Dade put the burden on CONMEBOL.
One word about the broadcaston Fox Sports.

(03:09):
This broadcaster has a history
of sweeping critical issuesunder the rug in its soccer coverage.
But Alexi Lalas took the grand prizein sheer chutzpah when the network
addressed, but downplayed, these issuesduring the 80-minute game delay.
He said, “Don't let anybody tell you

(03:30):
that America is not a soccer nation.
I think this shows there is a fervorand there's a passion for this game
and for these tournaments.” Just moronic.
A precursor to this happeneda few days before in a semifinal game
in Charlotte, North Carolina, where fansof Colombia and Ecuador began fighting

(03:54):
and some family members of playerswere caught in the middle.
Witnesses said it took at least 15 minutesfor security to show up.
With all
this inmind, the organizers of the World Cup,
along with the stadiumoperators and cities, will have to come up
with a more comprehensive plan to address

(04:15):
fan control in 2026.
Increased safety protocols, practicedrills,
opening up facilitiesup to five hours before game time,
better ticket collection, prescreeningcenters around the stadium, tighter
security, and warnings in the media about

(04:36):
the threats of arrests would be a start.
Any thoughts?
Send them to me at [e-mail].
Thank you for listening.
Until next time.
This is prophecy for the GabelliSports Business Initiative.