Barclays Center Breaks Record with Caribbean Concerts Driving 20% of 2025 Revenue

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) announced that Barclays Center has hosted a record seven Caribbean concerts in 2025, accounting for 20 percent of the arena’s gross revenue for the year to date. The milestone builds on the arena’s momentum after setting a new benchmark of 74 concerts in Fiscal Year 2025.

More than 80,000 fans attended the shows, highlighting both the rising global demand for Caribbean music and Brooklyn’s identity as home to one of the largest Caribbean communities in the United States. From sold-out dancehall events to large-scale cultural celebrations, Barclays Center has become a premier stage for artists across reggae, soca, konpa, and dancehall.

“Brooklyn’s deep Caribbean roots, paired with the rising global popularity of reggae, dancehall, soca, and konpa, make it especially meaningful for Barclays Center to host these shows,” said Laurie Jacoby, Chief Entertainment Officer at BSE. “These dynamic performances not only reflect the passion of Caribbean music fans but also showcase the important role our arena plays in bringing diverse, world-class entertainment to Brooklyn.”

Reggae Fest founder CJ Milan added, “Brooklyn has always been the mecca of dancehall in the United States, and with the genre on the rise, bringing these shows to Barclays Center is a powerful statement. The arena’s deep ties to the Caribbean community make it feel like home. With multiple shows already planned for 2026, we are excited to build on this momentum.”

In 2025, Barclays Center welcomed Vybz Kartel for three sold-out shows, along with Michael Brun, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Shenseea, Alkaline, Elephant Man, and Machel Montano, whose Planet Brooklyn festival performance featured Lady Lava, Bunji Garlin, Skillibeng, Ayetian, Ravi B, and more.