MIAMI – Amid efforts to protect Miami-Dade County residents from the coronavirus spread, city officials are negotiating a new deal with UMF organizers to postpone the March festival at Bayfront Park.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Commissioner Joe Carollo talked to UMF organizers on Wednesday asking them to postpone the electronic dance music festival, which attracted about 170,000 fans last year.
This year, organizers were expecting EDM fans from more than 100 countries to invade the park March 20-22.
“We are not saying canceling,” Carollo said during a news conference before the meeting. “We are saying suspending.”
Click here for the latest stories on the coronavirus.
Commissioner Manolo Reyes told The Miami Herald UMF organizers decided to postpone the festival, so as public health officials are working to control the spread, which is now affecting more than 80 countries, they are working on drafting a new deal to make a formal announcement later this week.
UMF organizers also decided to cancel this week’s annual Abu Dhabi event. The decisions will also be affecting EDM music stars David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, The Chainsmokers and many more. On Wednesday night, fans were reacting on social media.
“Imagine the tens of thousands of people who have already paid money and set aside plans to be there,” Joel Alexander wrote on Twitter.
Michelle Pagnanon was demanding that Ultra Music Festival give EDM fans the option to get a refund.
“If Ultra doesn’t refund tickets because the event is postponed they better be ready for a class-action lawsuit and to be buried by the EDM community,” Pagnanon wrote. "Ultra already misstepped last year. If they want any chance at saving their brand, they will refund tickets.
The World Health Organization experts reported a drop in cases in China indicates a reduction of cases in Italy, Korea and Iran are also possible. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts reported researchers are working on finding a treatment and the U.S. Department of Human Health and Human Services is providing $35 million to public health officials in 28 states, including Florida.
In Florida, there is a coronavirus patient in Manatee County and two in Hillsborough County. A Florida man was diagnosed in Washington state, and a man who had recently traveled to Miami-Dade County was diagnosed in New York.