GTA 6 deal puts $3.9 million toward Miami's empty lot

Residents of Miami-Dade County will see new Grand Theft Auto VI branding across the region, but the money behind the campaign is also funding a long-pending public space. On Thursday, the county announced a $3.9 million agreement with Rockstar Games to expand promotional materials for the upcoming video game launch.

The contract covers the existing rooftop display at the Kaseya Center and adds new visual elements. These include themed lighting installations at Port Miami and Miami International Airport. The deal also funds promotional signs on airport walkways and decorative wraps on traffic signal boxes throughout the county. County officials stated that all graphics require approval before installation to ensure they meet local standards.

A portion of the revenue is earmarked for development. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed that $975,000 from the Kaseya Center rooftop display agreement has been allocated to the park project. Carlos Suarez, the mayor’s communications director, verified this figure in an email to the Miami New Times. This funding is intended for the empty lot behind the arena.

The space has been a point of contention since 1996. At that time, the Miami Heat promised voters that while they built a stadium on Parcel A, they would create a public park on Parcel B. For three decades, the site served primarily as a parking and staging area. Officials repeatedly pledged walking paths and shade trees, but construction never began.

The area was renamed Dan Paul Plaza during the pandemic, yet it remained largely unused. The new allocation represents the first confirmed funding for the development of the promised amenities. The county expects the GTA VI ad rollout to begin soon, with the park construction timeline to follow the budget approval.