Ultra Music Festival Comments on 2014 Tickets: "Price Increase Unfortunately Necessary"

Each and every year, beat freaks become enraged when Ultra Music Festival's early-bird tickets sell out. Like, instantly.

This year, it took a whole 240 seconds. "With over 200,000 hopefuls waiting in the online queue," Ultra organizers boasted in a post-sale press release, "it's no surprise that the incredible value EARLY BIRD tickets were gone within just 4 minutes."

Lots of UMF fans weren't so ecstatic, though. The angry ravers complained of the "worst ticketing experience ever." They launched a Boycott Ultra campaign. They decried $399.95 general-admission tix.

Now Ultra has finally offered official comment on this early-bird debacle while insisting the GA "price increase was unfortunately necessary." And especially for all y'all angry ravers, the fest has also established a "Fan Experience Committee."

Check the cut for the full UMF statement.

See also:

-6,027 Angry Ravers Launch "Boycott Ultra Music Festival" Facebook Campaign

-Ultra Music Festival: It's Time for Ticket Layaway

Ultra Music Festival's Statement on Ticket Price Increase

In the first week of being on sale, Ultra Music Festival 2014 is on pace to sell out faster than ever before.

While many have taken advantage of the opportunity to purchase tickets while they are still available. We understand that our third-tier ticket price may be out of reach for some of our fans.

After not raising ticket prices the previous two years, and to ensure the premium quality and evolution of Ultra's ground-breaking stage productions and artist lineups, while continuing to meet the ever-increasing financial demands of city-related expenses associated with producing this massive festival in the heart of an urban metropolis, this price increase was unfortunately necessary.

The current cost of a general-admission ticket to Ultra Music Festival 2014 breaks down to $133 per day over the three-day weekend ($166 including tax and service fees). We refuse to cut corners and provide our fans with anything less thant the absolute best experience possible. The lineup currently being assembled, and the level of production being planned for March 2014, will exceed expectations and continue delivering unparalleled value to our fans.

For everyone attending Ultra Music Festival XVI in Miami, expect to see improvements across a variety of areas to ensure that each attendee receives the premium experience that they have come to expect when they walk through our gates. There will be many exciting new developments announced as the festival approaches so be sure to stay connected.

To ensure that our attendees always have a voice, and after analyzing our recent fan survey, we are establishing a "Fan Experience Committee" comprised of Ultra team members, artists, and fans. We will be reserving spots on this committee for applicants from the general public so that our attendees have a say in how Ultra Music Festival happens. Applications will be announced when they are available.

For our fans that will not be able to experience Ultra Music Festival in person, we invite you to watch the Ultra Live festival global live stream (in HD) for free.

In addition, for those fans in Europe on a strict budget, we invite you to join us at Ultra Europe July 12/13/14 on the coast of Croatia in Split and the island of Hvar. This is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Tickets for this festival are currently priced at €75 for two days (approx. $96 USD). Tickets are still available on UltraEurope.com.

We thank all our loyal fans for their continued support. We look forward to sharing the Ultra Music Festival 2014 experience with you either in person or online.

- Ultra Music Festival

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