Published
Fri, Nov 16, 2018, 11:10
- Returning in March, the EDM giant will pay $2 million to the city as part of the deal.
Miami's Ultra Music Festival has secured a new venue for at least one year.
The 2019 edition will take place from March 29th through 31st at Virginia Key, an island just off the mainland in Biscayne Bay. Two green areas will be used: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and the park outside Miami Marine Stadium. As part of the deal, the festival has agreed to pay the city $2 million and to have its license reviewed, and possibly revoked, after the 2019 edition. The lineup is still TBA.
This week's Virginia Key vote was approved four to one. Commissioner Ken Russell, who voted against it, is concerned about the damage the festival may cause to the local area, specifically in terms of wildlife and the environment. Ultra has been looking for a new home since September, when the city surprisingly voted against it returning to Bayfront Park.
Earlier this week, Ultra representatives responded to a video featuring Key Biscane Mayor-elect Michael Davey, calling it "false and misleading." In the clip, Davey outlines the risks of the festival coming to Virginia Key.
It's unclear what will happen with Rapture Electronic Music Festival, which was scheduled to take place at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park across the same weekend.
Launched in 1999 by Russell Faibisch and the late Alex Omes, Ultra Music Festival has grown into one of the world's biggest dance music events, with spin-off editions in cities like Shanghai, Mexico City and Cape Town.