Daddy Yankee’s 10 Shows at Coliseo de Puerto Rico Set To Smash Record

El Cartel Records – Daddy Yankee
Coliseo de Puerto Rico show opener

Global superstar Daddy Yankee, who helped turn his native Puerto Rico’s music into a global phenomenon with “Despacito,” his Spanish-language collaboration with Luis Fonsi and Justin Bieber, is in the midst of a record-breaking 10-show run (and $6 million gross) of his “Con Calma Pal’ Choli” concert presentation, produced by Rafael Pina, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, the island’s (and Caribbean’s) largest indoor venue, which has been configured for a capacity of 14,000.

It’s the reggaeton superstar’s first solo appearance at the venue in a dozen years, though he did perform there with Nicky Jam in December 2016.

“First I thank God,” said Daddy Yankee (Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) on his reaction to the sell-outs. “When they first announced the four shows, which grew to 10, I couldn’t believe it, having a residency in Puerto Rico for the whole month. I feel blessed that fans from all over have been traveling to see me live.”

“We have great expectations for these shows,” proclaimed Eduardo Cajina, the venue’s GM of four years, who has been with the indoor arena since it opened in 2004, marking its 15th anniversary. The Coliseo has hosted a variety of superstar tours, including Phil Collins, Metallica, AC/DC, Lady Gaga and Madonna, among many others.

Rafael Pina, CEO of the concert promotion company Mr. Sold Out, producers of the event, explains, “We expected to have four shows, but after the first and second dates sold out, within an hour, we could see how many fans were still online, waiting for their turn. At that point we knew this was going to be part of history.”

Daddy Yankee’s extended engagement was originally scheduled for Dec. 5-8, then added five more dates on Dec. 12, 13, 14, 27 and 28 before announcing one final concert on the 29th based on demand. The first night was marred by a technical snafu in the middle of the show, with Daddy Yankee on a platform at the top of the venue singing “Somos de la Calle,” which was supposed to descend, but malfunctioned, leaving the singer hanging in the rafters.

“Puerto Rico, please excuse me,” Daddy Yankee said, addressing the crowd. “I’m supposed to be down there with you,” before offering everyone in the audience a free ticket to a future show during the month.

After Saturday’s show (Dec. 7), a reported shooting resulted in what the venue called “damage to property,” with local police finding more than 100 bullet holes and broken glass doors at the main entrance, though no one was hurt. At the same time, Daddy Yankee producer Pina’s recording studio in nearby Caguas was also shot up with ammunition that matched what was found at the arena. Daddy Yankee addressed the incident at Sunday night’s show, saying, “Nothing will overshadow our Christmas … I have to say, although they committed that act to the Coliseo and my partner Pina, we forgive them.”

El Cartel Records – Daddy Yankee

Before those two incidents, though, Daddy Yankee’s run of 10 shows, which broke the record for Wisin & Yandel’s eight-concert stand last December 2018, was a cause for celebration on an island battered by Hurricane Maria in 2017, causing considerable damage to the roof of the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, forcing it to go dark for several weeks while it was used by various agencies for storage and distribution of supplies.

Cajina commented that these Daddy Yankee shows and his international success have been a cause for celebration on the island. “We are blessed, not only with what’s happening with Daddy Yankee, but with Bad Bunny, El Gran Combo, Marc Antony, Wisin & Yandel, Nicky Jam, Don Omar, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi and Ozuna. There’s a great deal of talent coming from here. And we thank God for that. Puerto Ricans are very proud of these accomplishments.”

According to Pina, there are offers to take the tout around the world, while these shows have attracted fans from Spain, France, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina and around the U.S.

The global success of Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s viral sensation “Despacito” was another factor in Puerto Rico’s emergence as a music center. “It wasn’t the first time something like that happened,” said Cajina, pointing to Ricky Martin’s breakthrough with “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and the 1998 FIFA World Cup anthem “The Cup of Life” bringing similar attention to the island in the pre-Internet era.