Tampa’s Barrio Latino Commission delayed a final vote on a controversial proposal for a music venue Tuesday morning, but also approved the relocation of a grand oak and casita that stand in the way.
Real estate developer Kettler announced plans earlier this year to put a 4,300-capacity concert venue as part of the under-construction Gasworx project. At today’s meeting, a representative of the developer asked the commission to delay an approval vote until March 23, 2026.
The venue would be operated by booking company Live Nation.
In April, a federal jury found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operate as an illegal monopoly that stifles competition and drives up ticket prices.
“There’s been a lot of input on this discussion, because as everyone’s pretty well aware, we need a little bit more time to sharpen our pencil,” said Tyler Hudson—a representative of the venue developers—at Tuesday’s meeting. “I think it’s never too late to get it right the first time.”
Attendees were not permitted to comment before the commission voted to approve a continuance, but an unidentified protestor shouted their comment from the audience.
“Do you not have the opportunity to deny the continuance though?” the protestor shouted at the commission. “Did you not hear the word salad he gave you requesting it? He said, ‘meh, meh, meh.’ It’s a multi-billion dollar corporation saying, ‘We didn’t think enough about this before we came to you.’”
The protestor was asked to leave the meeting, before the council approved the continuance.
The commission also voted to approve relocation of a historic casita and grand oak tree that stood in the way of the construction.
Tom DeGeorge is the former owner of Crowbar, a beloved Ybor City venue that closed last year due in part to the challenging live music landscape shaped by Live Nation.
He spoke against the relocation at the meeting, saying the developers hadn’t done their homework and may be violating rules set by the city of Tampa.
“I implore this commission to ensure any efforts with relocating or preserving the existing structure and the tree are done in a way that does not impose any new safety risks to the people of Ybor City,” DeGeorge said, “… especially when the same applicant is trying to add a 4,300 capacity music venue next door while adding zero additional parking spaces.”
Live Nation and its employees have come under much scrutiny over the last year, especially after a message exchange showed two employees discussing Tampa fans.
In one exchange, Ben Baker, then working in Tampa as a regional ticketing director for Live Nation, laughed about charging $50 for grass parking, adding “i charge $60 for closer grass” and telling Weinhold that he charges $100 for oversize parking that is still almost a mile from the venue entrance.
“robbing them blind baby,” Baker wrote in another message. “that’s how we do”
Vice Chair Susan KlausSmith cast the only vote against the relocation.
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This article appears in Oct. 22 – 28, 2026.
