City of Miami Beach Steps Up to Salvage World OutGames Activities
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2017
City of Miami Beach Steps Up to Salvage the OutGames Athletic Events
Miami Beach, FL – Since the World OutGames announced the cancellation of many of
their activities yesterday, the City of Miami Beach along with the Greater Miami
Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and the Miami Beach Gay and Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce, has worked with the event's logistics organizers to restore many
of the events that were planned.
In the last 24 hours alone, the Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department was able
to confirm and staff the Field Hockey tournament in the Flamingo Park soccer field on
Monday, May 29 through Wednesday, May 31; the Soccer Finals in the Flamingo Park
Stadium on Friday, June 2; and relocated the Indoor Basketball tournament to the Scott
Rakow Youth Center on Sunday, May 28 through Monday, May 29.
City staff is working with the regular Lummus Park volleyball community to keep and
manage the volleyball tournament as scheduled at the 7th Street volleyball courts from
Tuesday, May 30 through Friday, June 2.
In addition, the city and GMCVB are welcoming all registered athletes and their families
to a reception Wednesday night, May 31, at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden to
express the true nature of Miami Beach hospitality.
The city is extremely proud of our business and cultural partners, which have stepped up
to offer free and discounted admission and services to all OutGames attendees. The list
of such partners includes the Miami Design and Preservation League, the Palace Bar,
the Gaythering Hotel and the Gay Men's Chorus, which offered free admission to all
OutGames attendees to their performance last night at the city's Colony Theater.
Please find attached a letter to commission that detailed the city’s grave concerns on
March 28 here, along with the letter to commission sent last Thursday, May 25 here.
City staff has worked consistently for the past several months to assist the event
producers with special events planning and permitting; fundraising efforts; relocating
events to low or no cost venues; assisting with local partners to provide support and
access; and providing financial support to cover police staffing costs. As a lead sponsor
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
of the event, the City also waived all related special event and permitting fees for this
event and provided cash sponsorship to the OutGames.
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