Authorities arrested Sean Christian Matthews after he allegedly broke into America First Field in Sandy, Utah, early Thursday morning.
Matthews, a 23-year-old man from Rockwall, Texas, now faces multiple felony charges after entering the stadium illegally and damaging property to steal a Diet Coke.
Police responded to the home of Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals around 3 a.m. following a report of a trespasser.
Officers found Matthews sitting in a chair on the north side of the stadium.
According to a police affidavit, he admitted to scaling a wall to get inside.
Once in, he allegedly used a retractable belt stanchion to break into a refrigerator.
“Sean then explained that he took a Diet Coke from the refrigerator machine, which he later found to be unlocked and accessible by sliding open the doors,” the affidavit states.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Matthews jumping the wall, hurling the stanchion into the refrigerator twice, and taking the beverage.
Investigators estimated the cost of the damage at more than $17,000.
On Monday, prosecutors filed formal charges in the 3rd District Court, including second-degree felony property damage and third-degree felony burglary.
Matthews remains in custody as the case moves forward. Authorities have not yet released information about his court appearance.
The incident has raised concerns about security measures at the stadium, which regularly hosts professional soccer matches and large public events.
