Miami-Dade County officials and law enforcement leaders have publicly opposed a proposed promotional event that would transform parts of Miami into “Vice City,” the fictional setting for the upcoming game Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6. The campaign was planned ahead of the game's November 19, 2026 release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S [1, 2].
The proposal, submitted on June 29 by the office of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, envisioned renaming Miami International Airport as "Vice City Airport," branding Metromover trains with Vice City logos, and installing game-themed art on manhole covers and public buildings. Further ideas included event installations at local ports, beaches, and parks, alongside a 'Vice City Motor Fest' featuring classic cars and a 'Vice City Radio Lab' blending local history with GTA elements [1, 3, 2].
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz led opposition to the campaign, stating, "Miami-Dade County is not Vice City," and criticizing the GTA series for its focus on crime. She said, "GTA is a series centered around crimes such as murder, robbery, carjacking, and violence against law enforcement officers," adding that the campaign could undermine police efforts and community trust [1, 3, 2].
County Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez also condemned the plan, calling it "unbelievable" that the county would consider renaming important assets like the airport and accusing the campaign of promoting a fictional image "defined by crime instead of Miami’s real identity as a world-class tourism and business destination" [1, 3, 2]. Both officials jointly emphasized that "we should be promoting the Miami-Dade we have worked so hard to build, not a fictional version of our community defined by crime and violence" [3].
As of early September, no formal approvals or final decisions on the GTA 6 Miami promotional event have been announced [1, 2]. Discussions between Mayor Levine Cava’s office and Rockstar Games reportedly began in late August, but opposition from key officials may stall the plans before the November 19 game launch [3, 2].
