Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Miami Beach says no to Ultra
The Ultra Music Festival remains homeless for 2020 after Miami Beach commissioners decided not to pursue bringing the popular event to the island city.
Commissioners voted 5 to 2 against opening discussions to host the threeday festival in South Beach where it launched in 1999.
“I think, frankly, thinking outside the box is a good idea,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at Wednesday’s meeting, according to WPLG Channel 10. “I don’t think Ultra is a good fit for our city.”
Commissioner Ricky Arriola has proposed the idea of presenting the festival at Lummus Park after festival organizers announced they would not be returning to Miami. In April, Ultra was staged in Virginia Key where there were issues with shuttling fans on and off from the island to Miami during the first night. Residents of nearby Key Biscayne and Brickell had also complained about the loud music and heavy traffic.
“It is clear that the festival experience on Virginia Key was simply not good enough,” Ultra said in a statement. “Accordingly, we have voluntarily terminated our City of Miami license and thank them for being a part of our story for the past two decades.”
The festival, which draws thousands of local and out-of-town revelers in colorful outfits to hear electronic dance music, had been staged at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami since 2001. Last September, Ultra began searching for a new venue after Miami commissioners voted down a contract to keep the festival in Bayfront Park. The city opted for the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Virginia Key and Miami Marine Stadium Flex Park for this year’s event which took place in March.
Homestead leaders have expressed interest in hosting the event and, in something of a turnabout, Miami officials are also considering bringing it back to Bayfront Park, according to The Miami Herald.
“We have to be careful,” said Miami city commissioner Manolo Reyes, according to the newspaper. “We cannot be running businesses out of Miami.”