Google Analytics Events are Not Registering - google-analytics

Question

I am in need of assistance. I am trying to implement Custom Event Tracking for a form submission as both an Analytics Goal, and a Conversion Goal for Google Optimize.
Here is a screenshot of the Google Analytics Goal:
I have my Google Analytics in the head (with sensitive information redacted with XXXXX) as such:
<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=XXXXXXXXXXX"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'XXXXXXXXXXX', { 'optimize_id': 'XXXXXXXXXXX'});
</script>
And then I have tried to fire the custom event with both:
ga('send', {
hitType: 'event',
eventCategory: 'mailchimp',
eventAction: 'subscribe',
eventLabel: 'soft-lead-form'
});
and also:
gtag('event', 'play', {
'event_category': 'mailchimp',
'event_label': 'soft-lead-form'
});
I have confirmed that analytics is instanced effectively by writing to the console with:
if (gtag) {
console.log("ga present");
}
And I have confirmed that the user action triggers the ga call by writing to the console in the same function with:
$("#mc-embedded-subscribe-form").submit(function(){
gtag('event', 'play', {
'event_category': 'mailchimp',
'event_label': 'soft-lead-form'
});
console.log("ga Event Submitted");
});
I would GREATLY APPRECIATE any help. I've been through pages of documentation and, despite trying/testing multiple points in this process, I can not get the event to appear in Either Analytics or Optimize. This is a crucial piece for our marketing efforts and I very much want to make it work.
Thank you so much!
Gary

Answer 1

Surely the event with ga(...) you have to remove it because you are using gtag.
If you are seeing the events real time, then you need to wait for at least 24-72 hrs to get the data updated under Behaviour -> Events -> Overview.