With Ultra Music Festival a little over 2 months away from debuting its new venue in Virginia Key after so much chaos and tribulation, a new bump in the road has emerged. Remember that small festival called Rapture that was scheduled to take place at the same time there? By now you know that Ultra bumped it, and in fact part of its agreement with Miami required that Ultra would work with Rapture to find a new venue. Several weeks back, Rapture even updated their socials to indicate a new venue would be coming soon and would be even cooler than before!
Those plans must have fallen through because an attorney for Rapture just sent Ultra a cease and desist letter demanding Ultra stop applying for permits or risk a lawsuit. The letter from Paul K. Silverberg states:
We are investigating this matter further and if [you] do not immediately withdraw your application that directly interferes with our client’s planned festival time and location, we will be taking immediate action against you, the City and Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
Silverberg threatens punitive damages if Ultra continues and also claims that the city had an agreement with Rapture to keep going for 3 more years.
Transportation Plans
This is sure to get the attention of Ultra, as the festival has applied for permits and has to turn in completed traffic and environmental management plans by January 28 under the licensing agreement with the city.
Documents submitted so far show that Ultra wants to shuttle attendees on busses running on the Rickenbacker Causeway and water taxis. The number of vehicles, the meeting points, and routes have not yet been finalized. Other records show that Ultra is considering launching water taxis from Watson Island and will construct a temporary dock at Marine Stadium to accommodate the water taxis.
