Kanon Romero, owner of ROK Gaming Lounge on South Dixie Highway in Palmetto Bay, told NBC 6 South Florida he could barely contain his excitement after watching the latest Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer.
"We just saw the trailer last night and it blew all of our minds," Romero said on Friday, Aug. 28.
The game, set in the fictional Vice City but modeled on Miami and South Florida, is scheduled for release on Nov. 19. Miami-Dade County has proposed a branding partnership with developer Rockstar Games tied to the launch.
County officials see the partnership as a gaming tourism opportunity. They believe GTA fans could visit Miami to see the real-life locations that inspired the game's version of Ocean Drive, the Everglades and Miami International Airport, according to NBC 6.
County pitches Vice City makeover
Rockstar reached out to Miami-Dade looking to collaborate, NBC 6 reported. The county responded with a proposal that includes wrapping the Metromover in Vice City branding, painting Vice City murals on public buildings and stamping the logo onto manhole covers.
Local 10 News reported the pitch also floats temporarily rebranding Miami International Airport as "Vice City Airport."
The Miami Herald reported the proposal is dated July 29 and does not include a price tag. Chris Hudtwalcker, chief of staff to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, is leading the talks with Rockstar, according to the Herald. County spokesperson Carlos Suarez said nothing has been formally agreed to or approved and that any plan would still need to go through the county's review process.
What it means on South Dixie Highway
ROK Gaming Lounge, at 15305 S. Dixie Hwy., started in 2018 as a pop-up tournament operation at Lincoln's Beard Brewery, according to the business's website. The lounge later opened its own venue with 60 high-end gaming PCs, retro consoles and a trading-card-game scene.
ROK hosts weekly tournaments in games ranging from Pokémon to Magic: The Gathering and is open as late as 4 a.m. on weekends.
Romero told NBC 6 he recognized South Florida landmarks throughout the GTA 6 trailer, naming the MacArthur Causeway, the Venetian Causeway and Wynwood.
No timeline exists for when the county and Rockstar might finalize a deal, and no public hearing has been scheduled. The game launches Nov. 19.
