Ultra Music Festival has a new home in Virginia Key

Kicked out of Bayfront Park, Ultra Miami found its new home on Virginia Key – at least for the 2019 edition. Miami commissioners approved by four votes to one a contract for Ultra to be carried out on site. The organization is rushing to streamline the next edition in March in two neighborhood settings: the park near Miami Marine Stadium and the historic Virginia Key Beach Park.

The production of the festival will have to pay $2 million dollars, and half of that amount should be used to help build the city’s first Afro-American Museum – until the mid-twentieth century, Virginia Key was a mostly black neighborhood. The contract, however, can be considered risky, since, as the Miami Herald points out, it is a revocable license, which means that it can be canceled about a year before the next edition.

In an official announcement on social media, the organizers of Ultra were enthusiastic, noting that the new location brings new possibilities: increase the limit time to 2 in the morning and a larger space, consequently being able to receive more people.

“We are excited to announce that the City of Miami has agreed to a deal to relocate Ultra Music Festival to the beautiful and historic Virginia Key. The new venue will allow the festival to evolve into its new, larger home, ultimately creating a more enjoyable experience for all festival attendees. We look forward to a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with our partners at the City of Miami and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park as we commemorate keeping Ultra in the City of Miami,” the statement said.

It’s not all about partying

The UMF left Bayfront Park in part because of neighborhood protests over the noise and impact of city traffic. Before being accepted into Virginia Key, residents of the neighborhood have already expressed discontent, which means that the Ultra already faces resistance before even debuting their new home. There is considerable concern about the environmental impact of the festival in the region.