{"id":180361,"date":"2026-03-06T06:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T06:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/180361\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T06:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T06:02:10","slug":"students-kicked-out-of-parking-garage-after-denied-entry-to-sold-out-baseball-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/180361\/","title":{"rendered":"Students kicked out of parking garage after denied entry to sold out baseball game"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>David Lebowitz, Photo Editor\/ The Hurricanes meet at the mound against Florida on Febrauary 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

Approximately 50 attendees were kicked out of the Ponce de Leon Garage on Friday, Feb. 27, while trying to watch the UM-UF baseball game.<\/p>\n

According to the official Canes Baseball Facebook account<\/a>, the Friday and Saturday games were sold out as of Monday, Feb. 24.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of the 3,555 fans in attendance on Saturday, there were a record-breaking 615 students \u2014 200 more students than the previous record, according to Category 5\u2019s Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Junior Ashton Weissman arrived at Mark Light Field on Friday at 8 p.m., an hour after first pitch, and was turned away at the gates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe school basically said they were at capacity,\u201d Weissman said. \u201cBut as [my roommate and I] were standing there, we saw probably 100 students leave the game early.\u201d<\/p>\n

All fans, including students, who leave Mark Light Field are usually stamped on the back of the hand so they can re-enter the stadium, but, according to Weissman, that did not happen at Friday\u2019s game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The record-breaking numbers could explain why students were denied re-entry during the game.<\/p>\n

Weissman said that students without stamps \u2014 meaning they were not allowed re-entry \u2014 were exiting the game, leaving seats empty that more people could have filled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf students leave without stamps, more student fans should be allowed to take their spot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Students do not need to purchase a ticket in order to attend a baseball game, they only need to show their Cane card. In an email sent by the University on Thursday, Feb 26, students were \u201cencouraged to arrive early to secure a spot\u201d since seating was available on a \u201cfirst-come, first-serve basis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

After being denied at the gates, Weissman and his roommate turned to the Ponce de Leon Parking Garage, to watch the game since it overlooks the stadium.<\/p>\n

Despite thinking that he was allowed to view the game from the parking lot, security told Weissman and about 50 other viewers to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just wanted to see the game and support it,\u201d said Weissman.<\/p>\n

The idea to watch the game from the parking garage was not his own, and Weissman thought it was common practice for Miami fans when the Light was packed. .<\/p>\n

He originally got the idea from a post on the RedCup Miami<\/a> Instagram account from Feb. 19 that featured photos of Canes fans watching the baseball game from various locations that are not the field, with the text \u201cMiami Fans have some creative ways to view the games.\u201d Multiple photos showcase fans standing on different levels of the Ponce de Leon Garage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Screenshot of RedCup Miami\u2019s Instagram post featuring students watching the baseball game from Ponce de Leon garage\/ \/\/ Photo via TMH Staff.<\/p>\n

While RedCup Miami is a satire\/comedy account that is not directly affiliated with UM, the official Canes Baseball account left a comment: the two hands forming a U emoji (\ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffc).<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would they draw attention to it if they didn\u2019t want people to do it?\u201d Weissman said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Screenshot of the RedCup Miami\u2019s Instagram post with the @canesbaseball account commenting the \u201cU\u201d emoji. \/\/ Photo via TMH Staff.<\/p>\n

Weissman urges UM to increase the number of students who are given seats inside the stadium, as all baseball games in the past few weeks have sold out quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need a system in place where the capacity makes sense for students who want to support them and watch the game,\u201d Weissman said.<\/p>\n