Overview
- The City Commission voted 4-3 on Sept. 10 to authorize the city manager to negotiate with Rockstar Games for a marketing deal rather than to sign a finished contract.
- Commissioners limited the proposed campaign to privately operated Boucher Brothers beach chairs and umbrellas and set a fixed run from Oct. 15 through Dec. 31 to reduce visibility on public property.
- City officials said the deal is expected to bring about $3 million to Miami Beach, with some commissioners suggesting total benefits could approach $4 million and be used for local projects like park or field repairs.
- Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and other critics objected that Grand Theft Auto centers on criminal activity, and the commission debate exposed a sharp split between opponents worried about the city’s image and supporters focused on revenue.
- Separately, county-level discussions over larger real-world placements — including airport branding and a reported Kaseya Center sign — are ongoing and have not been finalized as Rockstar ramps up pre-release marketing ahead of the Nov. 19 game launch.