Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre was always special to Jay Z, given that it is based in his home town as well as him being the first performer in the 19,000 capacity venue back in 2012. Now Jay’s Roc Nation Music has signed a multi-year deal with the venue for special events, which will include artist performances, showcases, festivals and of course Tidal events as well an annual concert from none other than Jay Z himself.
The partnership could prevent Roc Nation’s top talent; Kanye West, Rihanna, J.Cole or Shakira, from playing other New York arenas on future tours, however this is not officially confirmed. The company’s CEO Brett Yormark commented saying; “Barclays has been and will continue to be the home for Roc Nation artists, and I think that’s a mutual feeling.”
This deal gives Barclays a competitive advantage because of the crowded New York arena market. In 2014, Barclays Center made $53.7 million from 134 concerts and sporting events, including 27 sell-outs, according to Billboard BoxScore. Manhattan rival Madison Square Garden made $106.1 million from 81 concerts and sporting events, including 48 sell-outs, during the same time period, which makes Barclays Centre roughly half the business of Madison Square Garden.