Miami may not be hosting the Latin Grammy Awards next month because organizers have voiced concern that protests from Cuban exile groups could jeopardize the safety of performers and guests.
A coalition of 67 Cuban exile organizations who plan to protest the performance of Cuban artists at the event are unhappy with the designated demonstration area proposed by organizers, the Miami Herald reported Sunday.
Seven Cuban artists have been nominated for the Latin Grammys.
The protest issue leaked out on Thursday after a meeting at AmericanAirlines Arena between Miami police and arena staff ended abruptly when the city could not guarantee that demonstrators would be kept far enough from the arena staff.
The exile groups want to be across AmericanAirlines Arena’s red carpet entrance on Biscayne Boulevard, but Latin Grammy organizers fear it is too close to their guests and TV cameras filming the arrivals. Show organizers favor a site proposed earlier which is three blocks away from the arena.
On Friday, Miami city officials came up with a compromise site, which includes time restrictions on when the protests can be staged. The exile coalition is scheduled to vote on the proposed site at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, a member of the host committee that wooed the event to Miami, vowed yesterday to persuade the Latin Grammys organization to remain in Miami, the Herald said.
Event organizers have said they would not make any decisions about moving the event until talks had been held. The loss of the event could cost the city more than $35 million in lost revenue.
Other proposed venues include the National Car Rental Center in Broward County, Fla., the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach and the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles.
