Back in July, Miami Commissioners voted to decide whether Ultra would return to its iconic home at Bayfront Park in 2020. The vote passed after Ultra made some concessions, including a commitment to lower the sound cap to 102 dB. The festival also promised to eliminate the Biscayne (Oasis) Stage, but fans were thrilled nonetheless.
Four months later, tickets for #Ultra2020 have gone on sale and the Phase 1 lineup has been announced. But just as we start to forget the saga ever happened, a troubling detail emerges. It appears that Ultra organizers and Miami administrators have yet to sign a formal contract that allows Ultra to use the public space. Both parties have not offered any clarity on why this is currently the case, aside from a (reassuring?) statement from administrators that “We are actively working to finish up the agreement.“
Ultra’s Next Steps?
Ultra is scheduled to happen from March 20 to 22, which leaves just under four months for the respective parties to work things out. In its previous editions at Bayfront Park, Ultra had worked with the semi-autonomous agency that manages the park instead of directly liaising with the City Commission and administration. After signing the contract, organizers would still need to handle payments, secure permits and work on a traffic management plan.
This time last year, Ultra was scrambling to handle a last-minute move to Virginia Key. Consequently, the event fueled several logistical disasters, most notably the amount of time it took for fans to leave the venue. The Virginia Key Advisory Board had since then passed a resolution against the festival’s return.
Ultra’s Response
“We released an amazing Phase 1 lineup last week which received an overwhelmingly positive response from our fans around the world, and like everyone else, we are excited about returning to Bayfront Park in March. Ultra’s agreement was previously ratified in July and, as is customary, we are working with the City Administration on some final touches.”
But back to the present. With the clock ticking, we hope things will pan out smoothly for Ultra’s 2020 edition, especially after knowing of its stellar lineup! Festival headliners include Flume, Gesaffelstein, Major Lazer, and Zedd. Check out the full Phase 1 lineup below!
