Earlier this week, the US rapper Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s US stadium tour after several venues objected to his participation following his public statements of support for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Macklemore has been an outspoken critic of Israeli genocide in Gaza, using his concerts and public appearances to express solidarity with Palestinians and calling for a “free Palestine” during performances.

Sheeran is still scheduled to perform at the stadiums that objected to Macklemore, drawing renewed scrutiny to the people and organisations behind some of the biggest sporting venues in the United States, and, in several cases, to their documented financial and political ties to Israel.

The venues reportedly objecting to the rapper include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The episode became particularly significant after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed that he had intervened over Macklemore’s participation.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Kraft spoke directly with Sheeran and other NFL owners, including Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, who also opposed keeping Macklemore on the tour.

The intervention raises a broader question as Sheeran prepares to continue performing at the venues: who controls these stadiums, and what are their documented ties to Israel?

Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium

The most direct connection is Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns and operates Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform next week.

Kraft, also has a longstanding relationship with Israel, having donated millions of dollars to Israeli causes.

In 2016, he donated $6 million towards the construction of the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem. The facility was developed as a multi-purpose sports complex and named after Kraft and his family.

The Kraft Group says the family has donated millions of dollars to develop American Football Israel and highlights the Jerusalem sports campus among its Israel-related “philanthropy”.

Kraft also drew attention earlier this year after his name surfaced in connection with the Epstein files. 

In 2019, after he was charged with soliciting prostitution, Kraft added a lawyer who had previously represented Jeffrey Epstein to his legal team. The charges against Kraft were dropped the following year.

Kraft’s intervention against Macklemore has also sparked a backlash, as the decision quickly escalated into a broader dispute, with artists and supporters accusing the billionaire of using his influence to silence a pro-Palestinian voice.

Macklemore responded by challenging Kraft directly. 

After saying he had been removed from the tour for supporting Palestinians, he pledged $1 million of his tour earnings to organisations supporting Palestinians and invited Kraft to match the donation. 

Kraft subsequently sought to reframe the dispute as one about antisemitism rather than opposition to Palestinian advocacy. He then said he would commit $2 million to “aid in the region”, though it’s unclear where the money would go.

Arthur Blank and Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Another stop on Sheeran's tour is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is owned by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, a state agency. The authority says the stadium is one of its assets and that it manages it.

The Atlanta Falcons, however, are owned by pro-Israel billionaire Arthur Blank, whose organisation is closely involved in the stadium and its operations.

Blank also has documented ties to Israel. In October 2023, the Arthur M Blank Family Foundation announced $750,000 in grants to Barzilai Medical Center, Soroka Medical Center and United Hatzalah in Israel.

The foundation had previously given at least $75,000 to the Jewish Agency for Israel’s North American Council, according to reports.

In an essay published by the Jewish National Fund, one of his sons describes being inspired by his father’s commitment to supporting Israel, saying "Zionism in my family has always been steadfast."

Blank was also among the NFL owners who opposed Macklemore remaining on Sheeran’s tour.

David Tepper and Bank of America Stadium

Sheeran is also scheduled to perform at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which is managed by Tepper Sports & Entertainment, the organisation owned by Carolina Panthers billionaire David Tepper.

Tepper has a documented history of donations connected to Israel. In 2006, he gave $1 million to the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey for its Israel Emergency Campaign.

In October 2023, the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation also directed millions of dollars of aid to Israel.

Tepper was among the owners who opposed Macklemore’s continued participation in the tour, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Jeffrey Lurie and Lincoln Financial Field

Sheeran is due to perform at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, the first venue after Macklemore's removal.

The Philadelphia Eagles, owned by Jeffrey Lurie, play at the stadium under a public ownership-and-leasing structure.

The publicly available evidence reviewed by TRT World does not establish comparable documented grants by Lurie to Israeli institutions.

Lurie nevertheless appears in the current controversy, reportedly joining Kraft, Blank and Tepper in opposing Macklemore's continued presence on the tour.

Lucas Oil Stadium and the Colts

Lucas Oil Stadium is a public facility rather than a privately owned NFL stadium. Indianapolis and Marion County operate it through a public stadium structure, while the Indianapolis Colts are tenants.

The Irsay family controls the Colts. Following the death of longtime owner Jim Irsay, his daughters Carlie Irsay Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson assumed ownership responsibilities.

Unlike Kraft, Blank, and Tepper, the current Colts ownership group has no comparably documented record of Israel-specific donations in the public sources reviewed.

AT&T Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys

The City of Arlington owns the stadium, while the Dallas Cowboys hold a lease to operate there. The city approved an agreement in April 2026 extending the Cowboys’ lease through 2055.

Jerry Jones and his family own the Cowboys.

The material reviewed for this story includes no comparable publicly documented Israel donation by Jones. 

Raymond James Stadium and the Glazers

Sheeran's North American tour is scheduled to conclude at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in November.

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is publicly controlled as well.

The Tampa Sports Authority, an independent public agency created under Florida law, manages the stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, owned by the Glazer family, are its NFL tenants.