Almost a decade before Bad Bunny performed for millions at Sunday’s Super Bowl, the Puerto Rican musician played at a now-closed nightclub in Allentown.
Maingate Nightclub owner Dominic Germano posted on social media that Bad Bunny performed one of his first sold-out shows in January 2017 at the nightclub at 448 N. 17th St. in Allentown.
A clip of the performance can be seen on YouTube. According to the video, it was his first performance in Pennsylvania.
“Still on a bit of natural high after that Show. Just overall Great Night with Good Music and Good Peoples!!” Germano posted the day after. “Forever Grateful for Nights Like these!!!!!! Thank you to all who showed Love at Maingate Nightclub’s Latin Fridays with Bad Bunny Live on Stage!!”
In a post a few years later, Germano reflected on the show, saying he did not know who Bad Bunny was at the time. He said he was grateful that one of the artist’s first shows was at the club, which closed for good last year.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, has won numerous awards and has become one of the most-streamed artists. He even made an earlier appearance at the Super Bowl alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, just three years after his show in Allentown.
His 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance drew a reported 135 million views.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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