Proposals to transform parts of Miami-Dade County into in-game locations from Grand Theft Auto 6 have met strong opposition from local law enforcement and judicial figures. The plan, spearheaded by the office of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, aimed to leverage the upcoming game's setting, which is inspired by Miami, for promotional activities.
These ideas, outlined in a pitch deck submitted to Rockstar Games, included an "immersive arrival experience" at Miami International Airport with Vice City signage and GTA 6-branded aircraft. Other proposed attractions featured Metromover skytrains adorned with game livery, specially designed manhole covers, and a dockyard visual installation inspired by the game's Port Gellhorn. A "Vice City Motor Fest" showcasing customized vehicles and local entertainment was also part of the proposal.
However, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez have publicly denounced the initiative. In a joint statement, they argued that the county 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." Sheriff Cordero-Stutz further elaborated that Grand Theft Auto is a franchise "built around criminal activity" that features "murder, robbery, drug trafficking, carjacking, violence against law enforcement, and other conduct that the men and women of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office work every single day to prevent."
The dispute has also highlighted political divisions, with Mayor Levine Cava being a Democrat and Sheriff Cordero-Stutz and Commissioner Bermudez being Republicans. Commissioner Bermudez is also considered a potential mayoral candidate.
Adding to the opposition, Miami-Dade's Chief Judge Ariana Fajardo and Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin sent a letter to Mayor Levine Cava urging her not to feature courthouses in any promotional campaign for a game whose themes include criminal activity and violence. While acknowledging the potential fiscal benefits of such events for Miami-Dade County, they expressed reservations about associating official institutions with a video game that depicts crime and law enforcement pursuits.
Despite the criticism, a spokesperson for the mayor confirmed that "some conversations with Rockstar about potential opportunities around the launch of GTA VI" had taken place. The pitch deck also suggested a "Vice City Radio Lab," a community-focused initiative designed to blend local history with GTA elements, offering access to recording and digital media equipment for various creative programming, including music production and game development. Rockstar Games has reportedly embedded a team in Miami to research the local culture and residents for the game's development.