In Surprise, Ultra Cancels Virginia Key Deal

Just hours before Miami commissioners were to vote on a 2020 repeat of the Ultra Music Festival on Virginia Key, concert organizers abruptly  canceled the agreement, a move welcomed by many in Brickell and Key Biscayne but accompanied by a bit of finger-pointing in the City of Miami.

In a statement posted on social media, Ultra said its own surveys of fans found dissatisfaction with the Virginia Key location, which experienced hours-long traffic jams and prompted tens of thousands of ticket-holders to walk across the Rickenbacker Causeway to the mainland. Ultra told fans that being committed to excellence “means being willing to change things when they are not working.”

Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey said that shortly after hearing news reports, he got confirmation in a personal phone call from Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

“It’s a good result for us, I’m happy,” Davey said. He said he told Mayor Suarez “the Village of Key Biscayne is ready, willing and able to work with the City” on appropriate uses for Virginia Key.

Suarez, for his part, said he had been pressing to preserve $2 million in income for the City while also addressing noise, traffic and ecological issues. He said he welcomed a new discussion with Key Biscayne and other communities.

But he added: “Key Biscayne needs to put skin in the game” about future planning for Virginia Key, a reference to failed discussions after Key Biscayne sued the City over the relocation of the Miami International Boat Show to Virginia Key.

Suarez also directed fire at Commissioner Joe Carollo, who supported Ultra’s relocation to Virginia Key last November, but who said he would oppose a renewal of the agreement for a 2020 concert.

Brickell Homeowners Association President Ernesto Cuesta, whose group had sued the City to invalidate the Ultra licence agreement, said he was celebrating. He praised Suarez for insisting on concessions that Ultra, he said, would not agree to.

“The mayor did not bend,” he said.

Martin Grosell, a professor of marine biology at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, said, “We are happy with Ultra’s decision to not use Virginia Key for future festivals. It’s a fragile environment enjoyed by many and simply not suited for an event of this scale.”

Published reports said Ultra was considering a relocation to Homestead. A request for comment by Ultra was not answered at publication time.