The 15 Things You Didn't Know About Ultra Music Festival

Elite, are you ready for Ultra yet? If you can't tell, our team is more than excited to usher in the festival's extended duration.

Ultra Music Festival's 15th anniversary is well on its way to be the biggest event of 2013. As the festival begins its first three-day weekend tomorrow, beginning a historic two weekend celebration, the team at Elite Daily has been doing some research and dug up some secrets about Ultra.

In celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary Elite Daily has put together a list of the 15 things you did not know about Ultra Music Festival.

With topics ranging from the festival's roots as a single day event to its special connection with the boys of the iconic Swedish House Mafia this list should provide some insight behind the magic of Miami's greatest music event.

1. Ultra Music Festival was founded by two local Miami music lovers and business partners, Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes.

2. Ultra Music Festival started as a South Beach-based one day festival in 1999 with performances by Rabbit in the Moon and DJ Baby Anne.

3. Ultra Music Festival did not become a three-day festival until 2011.

4. Ultra Music Festival supports 915 jobs and pumps $79 million into Miami-Dade’s economy.

5. Ultra Music Festival has won six consecutive years of “Best Music Event” by the International Dance Music Awards

6. Ultra Music Festival hosted the first American performance by Swedish House Mafia.

7. The festival will also host Swedish House Mafia's final two performances.

8. This year's Ultra Music Festival will feature a performance by Snoop Dogg.

9. ULTRA supports GREEN initiatives. Since its launch in 2007 their on-site recycling program has been able to recycle 6 tons of recyclables that were directed away from Miami’s landfills.

10. There have been no confirmed deaths at Ultra Music Festival throughout its 15 year existence.

11. Ultra Music Festival 2013 will result in a record attendance of 330,000 fans.

12. Dog Blood, comprising Skrillex and Boyz Noize, will make their debut performance at Ultra Music Festival this year.

13. Ultra Music Festival's expansion to two three-day weekends marks the first time ever for a major electronic dance music festival to do so anywhere in the world.

14. With estimated attendance over 70,000 in 2008, the festival set a new City of Miami record for number of tickets sold at a single event.

15. Ultra Music Festival has now expanded from Miami to a worldwide event, with events held in Ibiza, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Seoul, South Korea; Split, Croatia and Hvar, Croatia.

Stephen Edwards | Elite.