"Taxpayer Dollars Should Not Support This" Good Ole Boy Florida Sen. Rick Scott Wants Kanye West's Tampa Stadium Shows Stopped

TAMPA, Fla. — Two June dates at Raymond James Stadium have turned into a political fight after U.S. Sen. Rick Scott urged Tampa's sports authority to reconsider hosting Kanye West, now known as Ye.

June tickets remain on sale even as a letter from Scott landed on the desks of stadium leadership. As reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the Florida senator argued that a venue backed by public money should not be connected to an entertainer whose antisemitic remarks have drawn national condemnation.

Scott pointed to Ye's history of praising Nazis, identifying himself as one, and promoting merchandise featuring swastikas. In the letter, Scott described those remarks as an insult to Florida's Jewish population and urged a fresh review of the Tampa dates.

June 26 and June 28 remain listed on Raymond James Stadium's calendar. No cancellation has been announced, and ticket sales continue despite the growing disagreement.

A separate complication comes from the ownership structure of the venue itself. Raymond James Stadium is operated by the Tampa Sports Authority, a public agency. That status places constitutional free speech considerations alongside mounting pressure tied to Scott's request that the June dates be reconsidered.

Tampa Sports Authority representatives acknowledged objections tied to Ye's visit while noting that the agency follows free speech principles in operating the facility. At the same time, the authority indicated it does not endorse offensive or divisive remarks made by entertainers appearing there.

Ye's tour plans have encountered obstacles in multiple countries. Reports cited by local outlets describe canceled bookings in parts of Europe, while legal disputes tied to live events have surfaced elsewhere.

Financially, the artist remains capable of drawing massive crowds. Earlier performances in Los Angeles filled SoFi Stadium and generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue, demonstrating that buyer demand remains strong despite repeated controversies tied to the performer.

Nothing in Scott's letter automatically removes the Tampa dates from the calendar. What now hangs over the stadium is whether free speech protections, business interests and Scott's request can continue occupying the same space while the June dates remain on the books.