Rockstar Games discussed a special advertising campaign for the game's release with authorities. Among the ideas were decorating the subway in Vice City style, themed manholes, and using Miami International Airport. Passengers could be greeted with "Welcome to Vice City" signs. None of the options have been officially approved yet.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz opposed the campaign. She believes that authorities should consider the message of such advertising, as GTA is dedicated to murders, robberies, carjackings, drugs, and violence against the police.
We need to seriously consider what message we are sending when our own authorities promote a fictional identity built around many of the same crimes.
Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez also criticized the idea of temporarily renaming facilities, including the airport, to "Vice City Airport." In his opinion, the region should promote the real Miami, not its fictional version, "defined by crime and violence."