Should Ye perform in Tampa this weekend?

The former Kanye West’s concerts on Friday and Sunday at Raymond James Stadium have sparked heated debate, with Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ashley Moody condemning the concerts due to his antisemitic behavior in recent years, and Sports Authority CEO and President Eric Hart and spokesperson Bobby Silvest defending the decision.

In late May, the Tampa Bay Times asked Hart why Ye was coming to Tampa for what were, at the time, the only North American shows on his calendar. His response: “Why not Tampa! Raymond James Stadium and Team Tampa Bay are world-renowned for our hospitality, professionalism, and collaborative business environment. Tampa is now a ‘must-play’ market for some of the largest entertainment and sporting events. … The fun is just beginning!”

Following Scott’s press conference at the Florida Holocaust Museum on June 15, the agency released this statement: “We condemn antisemitism from any source. However, we also respect free speech rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, even when we disagree with that speech. In addition, no tax payer money is being used for staging the Ye concerts. To suggest otherwise, is false.”

Hart, who is responsible for Raymond James Stadium bookings, reports to the Tampa Sports Authority’s 11-member board of directors, which has refrained from joining the conversation around Ye’s concerts.

The Times reached out to every other board member by phone and email to ask why the agency booked the show and if they were in favor of the show taking place.

Six members did not respond over several days: Dennis Carlton, Jennifer Collins, Ken Hagan, John Jaeb, Joseph Robinson and Andy Scaglione.

Two declined to comment: Tony Muniz (whose secretary returned the Times’ call) and Mark Woodard, who said Hart was the best person to speak about the show, as he “possesses the professional perspective and insight on booking events (i.e. concerts, sporting and other) and the particulars of any contract that may result.”

Here’s what the remaining three had to say:

Manteiga, the chairperson of the board and editor and publisher of the newspaper La Gaceta, said in an interview that he is “happy Raymond James Stadium is getting bookings,” since the agency’smission is to keep the stadium rented out as much as possible. Concert revenue lessens the financial burden on Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa to offset Sports Authority losses and the cost of stadium repairs, Manteiga said. As to why TSA booked Ye, Manteiga replied that he imagined the promoter reached out, Raymond James Stadium had dates available and the promoter booked the concerts.

Prida, a partner at Prida Guida & Perez P.A., declined to comment, but added that his views were aligned with a recentcolumn by authorMarla Bautista defending the Ye concert.

“If controversial statements are enough to disqualify someone from performing at a public venue (after they’ve apologized, mind you), then where exactly do we draw the line?” Bautista wrote.

“At a time when Florida is debating budgets, infrastructure costs, property tax and public resources, turning away a major revenue-generating event because some people dislike a performer seems less like sound governance and more like political theater (looking at you, Rick Scott),” Bautista wrote.

The Tampa City Council member initially declined to comment, sayinghe didn’t have anything else to add to Sports Authority statements and insisting the board doesn’t control concert bookings. Over email, Clendenin referred the question of why the agency booked Ye to Hart, since he is responsible for the booking and management of Raymond James Stadium.

In response to the second question, Clendenin wrote: “I will not attend the Kanye West performance. Generally, I attend most performances at Raymond James Stadium, so I think that should speak volumes.”