DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A third year of Florida Country Superfest in Jacksonville is not happening.
It was announced that the organizers of the festival have created a new event, called Country 500: The Great American Music Fest at Daytona.
The music festival at EverBank Field brought some of the biggest names in country music to Jacksonville in 2014 and 2015.
In a statement, Festival Productions Incorporated, the group that put on the event said, "Florida Country Superfest had a successful two-year run, annually entertaining tens of thousands of festivalgoers. A change in corporate strategy has led to the creation of an exciting new event for Florida music fans."
Over the last two years, Florida Country Superfest filled the stadium and hotels around Jacksonville as people came from all 50 states to see artists like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and the Zac Brown Band.
But those fans will now have to drive to Daytona for a similar festival, which will take place in the infield of Daytona International Speedway.
Paul Astleford, a representative for Visit Jacksonville and a member of the Tourist Development Council, said Jacksonville a group in Daytona had been bidding back-and-forth since August over the Superfest, offering different incentives and deals to the producers.
He said Daytona must have offered a pretty big incentive recently because Jacksonville did not even have a chance to throw their hat in the ring to compete with the Daytona deal.
Mayor Lenny Curry's office issued a statement Friday:
"Moving forward, we will build on the momentum generated from the successful events and are focused on proactively pursuing events that yield positive economic development results, accelerate Jacksonville's brand and enhance our quality of life."
The new Memorial Day weekend event at Daytona International Speedway will feature music stars Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson and dozens more.
The complete lineup and will be released Nov. 3, the same day tickets and VIP packages go on sale to the public.
The Country 500 festival will be spread over three days and nights, programmed on three huge performance stages, all specially designed and built for the festival. Country 500 will take place on the infield of the world-famous Daytona International Speedway, a historic first mega-music festival inside the hallowed grounds of one of the most iconic motorsports venues in America, organizers said.
The event will also allow fans to camp out in the infield inside the festival.
Visit Country500.com or call 1-844-500-FEST for tickets, camping, parking, and other festival information.