Fresh off its September 5 ribbon cutting ceremony, the new $863 million Little Caesars Arena is the new kid in town when it comes to Detroit sports and entertainment venues. The arena’s schedule is already crammed, with tons of talent lined up in the near future, but perhaps none of them are as anticipated as Kid Rock.

Little Caesars Arena was built by billionaires using $324 million in taxpayer money, according to CBS Detroit. Obviously, the decision to have Michigan-native Kid Rock, who has been known to display the Confederate flag at his concerts, kickoff the new arena has provided predictable backlash from those who were forced to contribute.

"Kid Rock performs at a Fourth of July performance at Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey," via Detroit Metro Times.

“He’s wrong for bearing that Confederate flag and for… not even apologizing for the use of the Confederate flag,” said Rev. Charles Williams II, president of the Michigan National Action Network. “We used our tax dollars to help build this stadium, and at the end of the day, they pull in someone who has no connection whatsoever,” he continued. “I don’t care how much you try to brand it… at the end of the day, Kid Rock doesn’t represent Detroit and he’s not Detroit.”

The Michigan chapter of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network is also expecting large crowds to show up in protest of Kid Rock’s concerts at the arena on Sept. 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, and 20, according to MLive. The first protest is planned at 6 a.m. the morning of the first concert in front of Kid Rock’s “Made in Detroit” restaurant, which recently opened attached to the new arena, on Woodward Ave.

“Kid Rock is the tip of the ugly iceberg of white supremacy,” said the group’s political director Sam Riddle, and is “an insult to Detroit, America’s blackest and poorest city.”

Kid Rock has also drummed up more controversy over the past couple of weeks as he has hinted at a potential 2018 run to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. This potential became reality late in the night of September 7 at Kid Rock’s Grand Rapids concert at Van Andel Arena in a very blunt address to his followers.

No more than three songs into his concert, Robert Ritchie (Kid Rock’s real name), took to stage to deliver his politically-charged message. With “Hail to the Chief” blasting in the background, Ritchie was introduced to the stage as the “Next senator of Michigan” and began his near 3-minute address.

Ritchie rhymed many of his political views using his musical talents in which he condemned Nazis, bigots, the KKK, and people who disrespect the national anthem, according to MLive, and was followed by massive applause from the Kid Rock-friendly crowd.

“F*ck Colin Kaepernick,” said Ritchie, “And f*ck any motherf*cker who decides to disrespect the National Anthem.” Colin Kaepernick is a former 49ers quarterback who has essentially been blacklisted by NFL owners for kneeling during the national anthem last season.

The announcement comes amid accusations of campaign finance violations and protests calling for the concerts cancellation. On September 1, Ritchie was accused, by Washington D.C. organization Common Cause, of violating campaign finance rules during his flirtation with a run for senate.

Whatever comes of Ritchie’s political aspirations is yet to be seen, however, it's off to a great start if you believe in the old saying, "there's no such thing as bad publicity."