When Kanye West announced two shows in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium, politicians and community members were quick to voice concerns. In fact, Florida Senator Rick Scott sounded the alarms, as he referenced Ye's Nazi past.
“Why on Earth would we use tax dollars to fund someone who has called himself a Nazi and praised Adolf Hitler?” Scott said, according to The Porterville Recorder. “There’s countries all over the world that have banned him, and we’re going to allow him to come to our state and our city?”
Despite this push, Kanye had structured a clause in his contract with the Tampa Sports Authority. This clause ensured that the show could not be canceled “based upon artist identity, prior or past public statements, public perception, political viewpoints, or the anticipated or actual content of the performance."
The shows went on as intended, with 63,200 people attending the first show and another 56,000 attending the second.
Kanye West Ignores Backlash
As The Porterville Recorder explains, these shows brought in a total of $3.44 million for the Tampa Sports Authority. This exceeds their expectations, as it was believed that the shows would draw $2 million combined.
Overall, it was a good catch for the Tampa Sports Authority, although questions still persist about whether or not Ye should have been allowed to perform. While he has attempted to apologize, there is no doubt that some fans believe he has yet to properly redeem himself.
Ye has been touring throughout the world this year, and he will continue to do so as 2026 goes forward. We will continue to document these shows, so stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from the hip-hop world.
