After months of meetings with residents and city staff, organizers of the proposed Miami Beach Pop Festival got an initial thumbs up from the Miami Beach Commission. This came on Wednesday night as the city of Miami Beach looks to host the event for the first time in November 2019.
The festival, which organizers envision as Miami’s version of Coachella, would be held on November 8th-10th. It would take place on the beach, between 5th and 10th streets. Although the details have yet to be finalized, organizers have suggested a wide range of possible headliners. These include Arcade Fire, Bruno Mars, Elton John, Enrique Iglesias, and Lady Gaga, respectfully. The festival expects to attract 35,000 people a day.
The team behind the pitch consists of Steve Sybesma and Paul Peck. The pair also co-founded the annual Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival. Sybesma, a Beach resident, has four decades of experience in entertainment marketing and production in the United States and abroad. Peck worked for 12 years in production, booking, and management for Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
Although this all sounds impressive, not everyone shares the same enthusiams about the potential traffic jams, crowds, and partying. Remember, Ultra Music Festival and the city of Miami battle each year to keep or take away the festival. City officials also worry about attracting too many visitors.
“I’m not enthused with another huge event,” Mayor Dan Gelber told the organizers at Wednesday’s meeting. Gelber and two other commissioners, Mark Samuelian and Micky Steinberg, voted against the proposal.
According to reports, a three-day festival pass would likely cost roughly $300. Residents, however, would be eligible for discounted tickets. According to city proposals, organizers also plan to donate a portion of ticket sales to Miami Beach environmental organizations.
While this is all very exciting news, nothing is certain yet. Organizers still have to secure the necessary permits in order to host the event. Miami Beach’s special event permitting process requires organizers to hold a series of meetings notifying the community about the plans.