MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Miami-Dade commissioners learned that Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently signed a deal allowing Rockstar Games to put up a “Welcome to Vice City” sign in Grand Theft Auto VI at the Kaseya Center, the Miami Heat’s home, owned by the county.
Shortly after 1:40 a.m. on Friday, during the Miami-Dade County commission’s second budget hearing that started Thursday afternoon, Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee described several violent video games he has played.
McGhee, 48, the commission’s vice chairman, said he allowed his 6-year-old daughter to play Grand Theft Auto, a popular action-adventure video game franchise.
“My daughter, driving the car, she stops at the traffic light,” McGhee said about players’ ability to make choices.
Commissioner Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez said he was concerned about Grand Theft Auto VI players who may choose to commit crimes and how this can impact the county’s reputation.
“If there is any money in the future, that money should go to the sheriff’s office,” said Bermudez, who represents District 12.
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Christopher Hudtwalcker, the mayor’s chief of staff, said Rockstar Games was paying “close to $1 million,” and there were negotiations for other signs at other county properties as part of “the biggest cultural phenomena of the year.”
Anthony Rodriguez, the commission’s chairman, said he needed more information about the marketing campaign to be released in November. Hudtwalcker committed to providing more information before the next commission meeting.
Commissioners will have to consider how the deal’s revenue could be used to develop the Dan Paul Plaza, also known as Parcel B, a county-owned waterfront property behind the Kaseya Center.
Rockstar Games plans to release Grand Theft Auto VI on Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The fictional game’s protagonists are Jason Duval, a U.S. Army veteran who works for drug runners, and his girlfriend Lucia Caminos, who doesn’t want to go back to prison.
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Grand Theft Auto VI’s trailer released in 2025
