VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Laurie Jacoby

Laurie Jacoby
EVP & Chief Entertainment Officer
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

AI CAN’T DO THAT
“It’s a valuable tool, but this business will always be based on relationships.”

Laurie Jacoby leads the team at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, a top venue in the world’s most competitive market that continues to draw top tours while hosting two pro sports teams. She does it through what she calls “The Brooklyn Way.”

“One of my greatest successes this year has been continuing to make Barclays Center a destination where artists choose to spend more time. We saw significant growth in multi-night runs from artists including Ariana Grande, Charli xcx, Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, Tame Impala, and Olivia Rodrigo, among others. Those opportunities are the result of years spent building trusted relationships with artists, promoters, and managers, while creating an experience they know they can’t find anywhere else. 

“Our philosophy is simple: come from a place of ‘yes.’ Whether it’s artist hospitality, promoter partnerships, or the fan journey from street to seat, we want every interaction to feel thoughtful, personal, and unmistakably Brooklyn. That commitment helped make July a record-breaking month for Barclays Center, delivering historic results across concerts, tickets sold, and gross revenue, and continues to position us as one of the industry’s premier destinations for live entertainment.

“Being located in New York means competing in one of the world’s busiest live entertainment markets while balancing the schedules of two professional sports teams, concerts, comedy, family entertainment, and special events. Every available date matters.

“We’ve continued to broaden our programming strategy by strengthening relationships with independent promoters and curating a diverse mix of artists and events that celebrates the diversity of Brooklyn. That has allowed us to expand beyond traditional concert bookings into events like esports (League of Legends World Championship), while continuing to grow family programming, comedy, and artists spanning genres like Caribbean, Afro-pop, Latin, Asian pop and more. Our mission to create bold, authentic, and unforgettable experiences that redefine sports, entertainment and hospitality, The Brooklyn Way, helps us create opportunities that feel unique to our venue and our community.”