Offside Urban Echoes: Exploring the Spatial Dynamics of Soccer and Crime in Medellin

Abstract

The emotions elicited by soccer matches, combined with the large crowds they draw, create an environment conducive to criminal activity. This article examines how significant sporting events, such as soccer matches, influence various types of crime in Medellin, a city historically associated with high crime rates. We use a spatial difference-in-differences approach, alongside a policy change that imposed stricter access controls to the stadium, to assess soccer matches’ spatial and temporal impacts on crime. Our findings reveal large heterogeneity across different types of crime, spatial reach, and temporal displacements. Physical altercations and auto theft are the most responsive to sporting events, effects that are mitigated after the implementation of stricter attendance regulations.