Ultra Music Festival issued a cease and desist by competing festival
Ultra Music Festival got approval from Miami commissioners to relocate to Virginia Key for its 2019 edition, after losing its longtime home of downtown Miami, FL, back in November. However, there still may be roadblocks in the way of the EDM-focused festival, which is scheduled for March 29-March 31, 2019. Rapture Electronic Music Festival was scheduled for the same location and two of the same three days as Ultra this year, and as threatened, they have served Ultra with a cease and desist. As Miami Herald reports, Rapture, which has spent the past two years at Virginia Key, is demanding Ultra withdraw its application for permits or risk legal action.
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“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,” reads the letter from Rapture’s attorney, Paul K. Silverberg. “Any continued behavior and furtherance of the complained act will be considered willful and subject you to punitive damages.”
Silverberg contends the city had an understanding and ongoing relationship with Rapture to keep the event on Virginia Key for three more years.
“There are a number of government employees, who have already stated that Rapture was scheduled for that timing and that you knew — just like others in the city, Virginia Key Beach Park Trust and parks department,” Silverberg wrote.
Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez and Ultra spokesman Ray Martinez declined to comment on the letter.
Miami commissioners voted 4-1 in November in favor of granting Ultra a contract for Virginia Key.
Ultra lost its last location at Bayfront Park after residents complained about the noise and chaos they said the festival brought to the residential area. The City of Miami Commission voted in September of 2018 to deny the festival a new five-year contract for them to stay at Bayfront, necessitating its move.