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State Farm Stadium Reaches Capacity for Charlie Kirk Memorial, Overflow Arena Opened

A capacity crowd forced organizers to open a nearby arena under multi-agency security with extensive road closures.

Overview

  • Tens of thousands filled State Farm Stadium in Glendale for the public memorial, prompting organizers to activate Desert Diamond Arena as an overflow site.
  • President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance as featured speakers, with a program that mixed political tributes with worship-style music and biblical messages.
  • Turning Point USA said about 200,000 people registered for the event, and authorities began turning some attendees away once the stadium hit its roughly 73,000-seat limit.
  • Security was reinforced by the Secret Service, FBI, state troopers and local police after an armed man was detained at the venue the day before and later released, according to a Turning Point spokesperson.
  • Glendale Police reported heavy congestion and closed multiple streets and Loop 101 ramps near the stadium as crowds arrived from the predawn hours, with some attendees walking long distances to reach the site.