Ultra Music Festival is finally legal, in the sense that adult party people will no longer need to rage alongside wide-eyed 12-year-olds and be astonished when they say it's their "third year."
For the 2015 edition of the EDM fest, each and every raver will need to be at least the age of majority to get through the gates at downtown Miami's Bayfront Park.
Earlier today, Ultra organizers confirmed this new 18-and-over policy after festival fliers with an "18+" disclaimer popped up at this past weekend's Electric Zoo in New York.
Of course, many grownup EDM fans are pleased. But lots of Ultra underage ravers are howling, "I'm about to cry."
See Also: Ultra Confirms 18-and-Over Policy: "The First Step to Having Fun Is Feeling Safe"
The age restriction could be Ultra's way of dedicating itself to safety in the wake of a recent security guard trampling and attendee overdoses. Or maybe it's just about freakin' time.
The concept is anything but foreign. Ultra is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to allowing underage festivalgoers. And after all the alarming press that resulted from last year's festivities, even many fans called for a policy change.
@ultra maybe it's time to make your festival 18/21+ and stop over selling tickets to the point where it takes 2 hours to even get in
— Alejandro Solana (@A_Sol305) April 4, 2014Ultra next year should be 18 and over or even 21 and over, idc if I don't go, but it pisses be off that I see 12 years kids there.
— Simon Serna (@simonsernaa) April 1, 2014See also: In Defense of Ultra Music Festival
Over the weekend, many people assumed the rumored 18-and-over policy was real. But there were certain ravers who continued to cling to hope...
I'm not believing this 18+ bs until I hear it from ultra themselves
— parks (@paarkss) August 31, 2014... But as we all now know, hope had already sold them out.
Confirmation - the @ultra 18+ change is TRUE. Flyers were passed out at numerous festivals this weekend
— Hope Lansing (@HopeUproar) August 31, 2014Despite the popular assumption that an age restriction will help protect fans and prevent trouble, there are plenty of fans who argue that it's a safety measure in name only and won't really make Ultra any less dangerous.
@FloridaEDMFam just wanting everyone to know, all overdose cases and deaths due to drugs in Ultra were all over the age of 18 soo...
— Cristine Urbina (@Cristii_Lovexx) August 31, 2014Unsurprisingly, the most devastated fans are those under 18 who promised themselves that 2015 would be the year of their first Ultra.
Ultra is 18+ now 2 months before I turn 18 next year currently crying
— Juliana Alvarez (@juli_alvarez13) August 31, 2014ULTRA JUST GOT MADE 18+ AND THAT WAS MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM MY PARENTS THIS YEAR IM ABOUT TO CRY THIS IS NOT HAPPENING
— Ryan Kelly (@TheRyannKelly) August 31, 2014I was sitting next to my mom when I found out ultra was 18+ now and I told her and she had this little ha now you can't go grin on her face
— Adi (@adijcohen) August 31, 2014if ultra is actually 18 and over expect me to fall into a deep depression
— Dimitri Vangelis 2.0 (@ruairi_jones) September 1, 2014See also: EDM's Five Greatest Delusions
Some believe that enforcement of Ultra's new 18-and-over policy may prove challenging. Especially since there are dudes already planning to "get into the fake ID game."
Ultra being 18+ is a great step up, but they're gonna need to upgrade their security with all the underage kids trying to sneak in now.
— Alexevna Ekaterina B (@EXEVNA) September 2, 2014Ultra is 18+ fuck selling Molly's we need to get into the fake ID game
— M∆VΣℕ (@DeejayMaven) August 31, 2014Honestly speaking, we here at Crossfade are kinda happy about it. Because the 12-year-old thing is not an exaggeration.
Ultra being 18 and over is the best thing ever. Seriously raving alongside 12 year olds is no bueno.
— BRYAN (@Bryreckless) September 1, 2014Ultra being 18+ just means more space, maybe....maybe a better crowd too & I'm pretty excited to see how it's gonna b
— Smiley ૐ (@StayPurpLucy) August 31, 2014The Gods have answered. Ultra 18+
— SESAME (@Sesvme) August 31, 2014And, y'know, a trip to Ultra is a pretty cool way to celebrate a milestone birthday.
Ultra Music Festival is now an 18 and over only event! pic.twitter.com/Z9Tf4rzl74" GOOD THING IM ABOUT TO BE 18
— Lauren Meyrick (@LaurenHollyM) August 31, 2014Crossfade's Top Blogs
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