MIAMI — With the 26th anniversary of the Ultra Music Festival on Friday, excitement is building across Miami as crews prepare Bayfront Park for opening night.
Sky 10 captured workers building stages and setting up for the three-day event, while city leaders finalize safety plans that have been in the works for nearly a year.
Manny Morales, the chief of the Miami Police Department, said planning for Ultra begins right after the previous year’s festival ends.
“The planning for Ultra begins the day after it’s done the previous year,” Morales said. “I can tell you the men and women of the Miami police department are completely dedicated to make sure this event remains one of the safest.”
Morales says local, state and federal agencies will work under a unified command as more than 105,000 people are attending the event.
Miami police are adding drones as first responders -- giving officers “eyes in the skies” to respond quickly to emergencies, traffic issues and calls for service.
Beyond a heavy police presence and K-9 units, officials say a human trafficking task force will also be in place, with informational flyers posted throughout the venue.
“If there are bad guys, we’re going to be on top of it. All you good guys, come have fun,” Morales said.
Over the past two decades, Ultra has grown into a global event, generating billions for the local economy.
“It’s estimated over the past 25 years, that number is close to reaching three billion,” Ray Martinez with Event Entertainment Group said. “It’s more than a festival. This scale ― this is influence.”
Organizers are also highlighting sustainability efforts this year.
“It included diverting nearly four hundred thousand pounds of waste from landfill,” Vivian Hunter with Event Entertainment Group said.
This year, the festival is rolling out 65 sustainability initiatives, including plans to power a stage using zero-emission batteries ― a first for a major EDM festival in the U.S.
Ultra has also recently received international Greener certification, becoming the first U.S. festival in more than a decade to earn the designation, and it has been nominated for a community impact award.
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