GLENDALE, Arizona — The memorial service for Charlie Kirk has reached capacity at State Farm Stadium, authorities said — as they began turning away some of the 200,000 people who turned out to honor the slain MAGA icon Sunday.
The Arizona Cardinals stadium, which has a max capacity of 73,000 people, filled up within hours of doors opening at 8 a.m. local time.
Additional attendees were sent an overflow arena next door.
Turning Point USA, Kirk’s organization, said 200,000 people registered for the event and cops on scene said they were estimating at least that many people turned out for the service — which features President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Kirk’s widow Erika.
Dressed in their red, white and blue “Sunday best” — as requested by Turning Point USA in advance of the event — throngs of fans and supporters packed the area outside the stadium while waiting to get in.
Greg Waters, 71, of Bishop, California, said he listened to Kirk’s podcast every day.
“He’s like a son to me. We are connected through the blood of Jesus Christ,” he told The Post.
“The problem the world has is it doesn’t understand the spiritual connection.”
He added: “I think the more people who turned out shows that he had more impact than people believed. They need to have a bigger stadium.”
Waters said he walked two miles to get to the stadium in time to line up for the memorial service.
Some attendees told The Post they arrived as early as 4 a.m. to beat the crowds, while some gave up on the overflowing parking lot and walked as much as two miles from their vehicles.
Betty Santasiero, of Pinal County, Arizona, 56, came wearing a red “I am Charlie Kirk” shirt.
“It’s just important to keep an open dialogue especially since I’m from New Jersey…and we have friends on both sides,” she said.
State Farm Stadium, where the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals play, holds as many as 73,000 for mega-events. Organizers expected the crowd to be greater than the capacity, so the Desert Diamond Arena next door, which can hold an additional 20,000, was also reserved.
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