12 Hospitalized At Ultra Music Festival Miami Day 1

Ultra Music Festival returned to Miami’s Bayfront Park last weekend for its 23rd annual event, and 12 attendees wound up being hospitalized on the first night. According to Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez, 24 people were evaluated by first responders and 12 were being transported to the hospital.

This year’s festival saw 165,000 people in attendance over the course of three days. Last year, an average of 16 people per day were transported to the hospital.

“Considering that it was the first year back from the pandemic, last year was one of our safest years,” Sanchez said in a statement following the 2022 edition. “There weren’t any major incidents, just minor incidents.”

In addition to the dozen hospitalizations, seven arrests were made during the first day. Charges included disorderly conduct, trespassing, possession of fraudulent credit cards and disorderly intoxication, according to police. According to Miami police, seven more arrests were made on day two.

Ahead of the festival taking place in Miami Beach March 24-26, two fatal shootings took place in the city on March 17 and March 19. Debates over a city-wide curfew working to curb spring break chaos took place. City officials rejected the proposal, instead enacting restrictions on alcohol sales after 6 p.m. during the days Ultra Music Festival took place. The original proposal of a midnight curfew would have impacted the festival, as the last set of each night did not start until 11 p.m.

This year was the third in a row Miami Beach utilized emergency actions due to dangerous spring break crowds.

In 2014, Ultra Music Festival reported 15 hospitalizations and 22 arrests. The event was relocated from its usual location at Bayfront Park due to noise complaints, moving to Virginia Key in 2019. However, due to difficulties in transporting attendees to and from the venue, Ultra returned to Bayfront Park in 2022.