Miami-Dade County submitted a pitch deck to Rockstar Games on June 29, proposing a marketing partnership tied to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, according to a report by The Miamian published in late August 2026. County spokesperson Carlos Suarez confirmed staff had held some conversations with Rockstar about potential opportunities around the game's launch, but said nothing has been formally agreed to or approved and that any plan would need to go through a review and approval process.
GTA 6 is set in a fictional state called Leonida, with Vice City serving as a central location modeled closely on Miami-Dade, playing the role of seat for the fictional Vice-Dale County much as Miami serves as the seat of Miami-Dade. Suarez said the county's clear influence on the game presents a unique opportunity to generate revenue while showcasing Miami-Dade to a large audience.
The pitch deck includes a range of proposed promotions: a display aircraft wrapped in Vice City branding and GTA-themed baggage claim areas at Miami International Airport, Vice City signage on Metromover and Metrorail transit stations, Vice City-inspired art installations at PortMiami, GTA-themed manhole covers and sculptures around the city, and a 'family appropriate' car culture celebration at Tropical Park featuring cars, bikes, DJs, food and artists. It also proposes a Vice City Radio Lab at the county's main library offering recording and media equipment for music, podcasting and other creative programming, along with ideas for Rockstar to help fund permanent infrastructure upgrades.
The proposal has drawn public criticism from Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who told the Miami Herald that Grand Theft Auto is a videogame franchise built around criminal activity whose fictional world includes murder, robbery, drug trafficking, carjacking and violence against law enforcement — conduct her office works daily to prevent. Miami-Dade Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez also spoke against the idea, saying the county should promote the real Miami-Dade rather than a fictional version defined by crime and violence.
Not all officials share that view; some have acknowledged the potential economic benefits of the plan. The Miami Herald noted that the Sheriff's Office is currently seeking a 12% increase to its $1.2 billion budget for 2027, and that the original county proposal encouraged Rockstar to pay for the promotion, funds that could theoretically help offset government expenses. The Herald also noted that in 2025 Miami-Dade closed a $400 million funding deficit by raising water and sewage fees and cutting funding to an office that helped residents obtain U.S. citizenship. As of the reporting, Rockstar had not signed off on the proposal, and it remains unclear whether the partnership will move forward.