Ultra's Press release

[katfisk]

BREAKING NEWS: Bayfront Park Management Trust Votes To Keep Ultra IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 10, 2003 BREAKING NEWS: Bayfront Park Management Trust Votes To Keep Ultra Music Festival On Schedule; Ultra Reaffirms Commitment To Work With City Of Miami In a noon hearing today, the Bayfront Park Management Trust denied a request by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz to stop the fifth annual Ultra Music Festival, which is still scheduled for March 22. Diaz voiced these eleventh hour concerns just this past Thursday, March 6, in a meeting at Miami's City Hall. Overwhelming support for the Ultra Music Festival and the existing relationship between Bayfront Park and the festival's promoters carried the day, as the venue's Management Trust voted to have the festival take place as scheduled. The Ultra organization has agreed to work closely with City of Miami officials and agencies, as it has in each of its previous four seasons, to ensure that this year's festival experience is not only safe but a memorable one for concertgoers, the citizens of Miami, and the City of Miami. "I think today was a very important day for the U.S. dance music community. The type of event that we produce was put on trial today, and we were able to prevail and work out a compromise that benefits everyone involved. Everyone decided to work together on the issue of patron safety," said Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes, festival executive producers and co-founders. "Our number one priority is patron safety and enjoyment." As part of the agreement reached today by the Ultra Music Festival, Bayfront Park, and the City of Miami, the festival promoters wish to reiterate that Ultra 2003 is a zero-tolerance event with regard to the use of illegal substances. "We understand the concerns raised by the mayor and the city, and agree on many issues, and we are happy to do everything within our power to make sure this is a safe, successful event," Faibisch and Omes said. "We're very happy to continue to do business with the City of Miami. It makes me proud, having been born and raised in Miami, to continue this lasting relationship." "I'm extremely happy with the decision of the Bayfront Park Management Trust and the support that we've gotten from the local businesses in Miami," said Sason "Bishope" Parry, an Ultra Music Festival co-producer and performer. "Ultra is the signature event for the City of Miami, and we're looking forward to working closely with the city and the mayor to ensure that this year's Ultra is one that the City of Miami can be proud of." "The Ultra Music Festival takes pride in being a culturally diverse festival, and we look forward to bringing one of this country's best ever single-day musical lineups to the Miami community," Parry continued. Bayfront Park, the venue that hosts the Ultra Music Festival, has outwardly praised the Miami-based Ultra Music Festival Organization and its employees on providing a safe festival atmosphere. "The producers demonstrated a commitment to patron safety, collaborating closely with the City of Miami Police and Fire/Rescue," said a letter signed by Timothy Schmand, executive director for the Bayfront Park Management Trust. "The Trust believes that Ultra Music Festival will continue to work closely with them in the future." Of the music events held annually in Bayfront Park, the Ultra Music Festival is by far the biggest, drawing over 35,000 music enthusiasts in 2002. From its foundation as a 7,000-person event on Miami Beach's 21st Street Beach in 1999, Ultra has grown into one of the best and most successful dance music events not only in the U.S. but in the entire world. The International Dancestar Awards, the European equivalent of the Grammys, nominated Ultra twice as the Best U.S. Event. Ultra Music Festival's impact on South Florida is certainly profound: Over $1 million has been invested to date in this year's Ultra Music Festival. Ultra draws over 35,000 people -- from nations ranging from Brazil to Argentina, from Italy to Spain, from Japan to Australia -- to the Miami area annually, injecting life into the local economy. While tourism suffers around the country, an event like the Ultra Music Festival brings visitors to the region, filling up every hotel, restaurant, and shopping area with tens of thousands of respectable travelers and professionals from all around the world. Ultra Music Festival is routinely one of the highlights of the annual Winter Music Conference, a March music industry gathering that attracts over 10,000 members of the record business, international press, and music fans from all over the world to South Florida for the six-day event. Over 200 of the biggest artists from around the planet -- ranging from festival headliner Underworld to globally revered performers like Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk, Sasha, John Digweed, Tiesto, and many, many more from Europe, Asia, South America, and all over North America -- have already been contracted and confirmed for the festival, and possess tickets and passports to come to South Florida for Ultra 2003. Many of these artists frequent Miami Beach and downtown Miami throughout the year, playing to massive crowds whenever they appear and supporting the local economy year-round. The fees garnered by artists for performing at an event like Ultra Music Festival help make the Winter Music Conference possible; without the support provided by Ultra Music Festival Organization many artists would not be able to afford the trip to Miami for this annual event. ABOUT ULTRA Ultra 2003 is sponsored by D'VOX Magazine, Coolworld.com, Miami's Party 93.1 FM, and Basswalk Records. Tickets are now $55 and are available through the website, www.ultramusicfestival.us, as well as www.*************.com and via the toll-free number, 1.877.714.7668. For a listing of Florida locations selling tickets in person, visit the Ultra website. VIP Tickets are now on sale via the Ultra website. The Festival's VIP area will feature a preferred view of the main stage and tents, couches, bars, and bottle service, as well as an up-close-and personal encounter with the performers, industry, dance enthusiasts, and party people from around the world. For table reservations, contact 786-487-7803. For press list, interviews, and info about the Ultra Music Festival, contact: Formula PR - 212.941.9701 Sioux Z - SiouxZ@formulapr.org Jonathan - jonathan@formulapr.org Peter - formulapeter@nyc.rr.com Genevieve - genevieve@formulapr.org ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2003 (lineup subject to change) Underworld - live Paul Oakenfold / Paul van Dyk / Tiesto / Sasha / John Digweed The Streets - live / Mauro Picotto / Hybrid - live Timo Maas / Erick Morillo / Goldie / Roni Size Pete Tong / Seb Fontaine / Junkie XL - live / Josh Wink Rabbit in the Moon - live / Danny Howells / Steve Lawler / Bad Boy Bill FC Kahuna - live / Dave Seaman / DJ Dan / Nick Warren / Sander Kleinenberg Talla / DJ Rap / Adam Freeland / Max Graham / Electric Skychurch - live / Icey Sandra Collins / Donald Glaude / Christopher Lawrence / George Acosta Dave Ralph / Dara - Dieselboy - AK 1200 (Planet of the Drums) / DJ Craze Hernan Cattaneo / Dimitri (Amsterdam) / John Creamer / Adam F / Andy C / Krust & Die Present Kamanchi / Bad Company / Ed Rush / Optical / SS Shy FX / Wildchild / Total Science / Baron / Teebee / Bailey / High Contrast Influx Datum / DB / Reid Speed / Know:el / Steve Porter / Liquid Todd Baby Anne / Deepsky / Simply Jeff / Kevens - live / Jimmy Van M / Hyper Saeed & Palash / The Scumfrog / Planet B - live / James Zabiela / Chris Fortier Oscar G / Ralph Falcon / Rennie Pilgrem / Ivano Bellini / Desyn Masiello Edgar V. / Roland / Dub Species feat. Storm v. Johnny Dangerously Sensei - live / John "Quivver" Graham / David Waxman / Merlyn Juju / DJ Dazee / Empress / 100% Isis / Sean Cusick / Tim Skinner / Mark Lewis Carl Kennedy GBH NYC / Ariel Baund / Stryke / Trip Theory - live / R-Fresh / J Luv Rick West / K-Swing / Andy Hughes / Eric Berretta / Rob E & Security / David Padilla Stylus / Toby Holguin / Austin Leeds / Michael Louis / Human & Tuffist w/ MC Bass Nacho Kurtis Patrick / DHM / Juan Mejia / Craig Demo / Stephan Luke / cYn / Jon Cowan Austin Leeds / Sean Bauzay / Liam Shachar / DJ Grant / Lemon8 / 8 on / Mike Swatt DBJ / Hydraulix feat. Ash Rock v. Jimi the Genius / Galaxy Girl -live / Prizm & Eclipse -live Evac / Trevor Rockwell / Inner Realm - live / Khar / Profyle & Bri-tai / Supernaut George Alvarado / Eddie G / Garfield / DMP / Matt Martinez / Camilla Suarez / Mono Ramirez Modualar Fix / Diaz / Hempey & Dzire / Armamis Vega / Hardrive / Jump Tech / Pedro Calcano Bobby O'Hara / DJ Three / Sammy O / Rotfly and Shadoelyte / Dave Burg / Steve Chadwick Apple / 27dm / Hirofumi / Khazz / Alex Sajanovich / Ariel G / Pete Rage / Dawn / Nelson MC's: Rymetyme, Dynamite, MC, Tali, Questionmark, J Messinian $pyda, Navigator, Fearless, TC Islam