After being denied its contract renewal to hold the festival at its long-term home in Bayfront Park, uncertainty was in the air for Ultra Miami. Fans speculated where the 21st year would be held after the City of Miami unanimously voted down to renew another 5 year agreement.

The festival, which is held around the world but had been in Miami since 1999, started out on Miami Beach. It had been in Bayfront Park since 2001, spending a few years at Bicentennial Park in between.

Now, new negotiations are underway. Local Miami news has reported that the new contract proposal has put forth Miami Marine Stadium in Virginia Key as the new venue for the 3-day festival.

“This new production concept, which would be a natural progression into the next chapter of Ultra’s story, would be truly transformative,” a statement by UMF read.

The proposal advertises to have the festival in two locations in-tandem: the park next to the Miami Marine Stadium and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. Under the arrangement, festival activities would be held in two separate areas of the island. The island can only be reached by a two-lane bridge with limited on-site parking, and there are no hotels, assuring for congestion.

That is not the only concern. Rapture Electronic Music Festival is also currently slated to be held at the same time as Ultra Miami, and it is confirmed in the current location that the proposal would take over. While there are talks of moving Rapture by Ultra spokespeople, nothing is set in stone yet.

“While we are, of course, excited about the current proposal, this potential partnership represents so much more than Ultra’s impact on either South Florida or on the development of innovative production elements,” says Russell Faibisch, Ultra’s co-founder and CEO.

“I recognize the value of this event to local businesses and hotels as well as the global music scene,” he said. “If Virginia Key is the proposal, I will keep an open mind but am very conscious of the sensitivities with regard to the environment, traffic and our neighbors on Key Biscayne.”

The contract also includes money for the construction of an African-American Museum at the beach park out of a sense of corporate responsibility. Ultra is planning to work with authorities to make sure the festival does not create an environmental problem.

Due to public notice requirements and even with ongoing negotiations, a vote has been tentatively scheduled for November 15th.

“I recognize the value of this event to local businesses and hotels as well as the global music scene,” he said. “If Virginia Key is the proposal, I will keep an open mind but am very conscious of the sensitivities with regard to the environment, traffic and our neighbors on Key Biscayne.”

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