Report: Miami Dolphins assessing ‘significant damage’ to Hard Rock Stadium during COPA America final

Published by

Mike Battaglino

2 years ago

The Miami Dolphins reportedly are assessing “significant damage” to Hard Rock Stadium after a security breach at the COPA America soccer final that was held at their home venue this past weekend.

“The stadium was vandalized,” wrote Chris Jenkins of the Sun Sentinel. “But it’s not clear whether the stadium itself is damaged structurally, or whether any parts of the stadium essential to staging Dolphins or University of Miami football games have been damaged.”

The Dolphins have some time to address whatever concerns they might discover at the stadium with their first home game of the 2024 NFL season scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Miami starts the regular season with two consecutive home games, with the opener followed by a home matchup against the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The team also plays three of its first four games at home, with a game at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, Sept. 30 against the Tennessee Titans following a road game at the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 22.

The Dolphins do have a training camp practice scheduled for the stadium on Aug. 3, plus preseason games on Friday, Aug. 9 against the Atlanta Falcons and on Saturday, Aug. 17 against the Washington Commanders.

The team reportedly has not commented on the events surrounding COPA America other than to say they are in the process of assessing the damage. It is unknown what areas of the stadium may have been damaged, how extensive any damage might be, or when any necessary repair work might begin or how long it would take.

The issues at Hard Rock Stadium arose after unruly fans without tickets tried to enter the venue prior to the big soccer match between Argentina and Colombia. A statement issued by the management of the stadium said the fans were “fighting police officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalizing the stadium, causing significant damage to the property.”

A statement released by the Miami-Dade Police Department said there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections as a result of the events. Videos on social media showed fans crawling through what appeared to be a ventilation system in an attempt to enter the stadium. Social media posts showed damage to an escalator leading to the 72 Club inside the stadium.

It will be worth watching if the assessment of the damage causes any upcoming events at Hard Rock Stadium to be rescheduled or canceled.

Mike Battaglino

Mike is a veteran journalist who has covered the NFL for almost three decades. He has been an avid follower of the AFC East since the days of Bob Griese and is looking forward to an exciting new era in the division.