HARRISON, N.J. – Harrison Sportservice Inc., the concessions operator for Red Bull Arena, will lay off 467 employees at the start of next year, according to a filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor.
The layoffs, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, are part of a larger statewide trend that has seen thousands of workers lose their jobs across industries throughout 2025.
State records show more than 11,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, with layoffs expected to continue into 2026.
Key Points
- Harrison Sportservice Inc. will lay off 467 employees at Red Bull Arena effective Jan. 1.
- New Jersey has recorded over 11,000 job losses through WARN filings in 2025.
- More than 70 companies have announced layoffs affecting workers statewide.
Major concession operator hit by downturn
Harrison Sportservice Inc., which manages food and beverage services at Red Bull Arena, disclosed the cuts under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The filing cited the “Impact of Potential Lapse in Funding on Commission Operations” as the reason for the reduction, though no further details were provided.
The announcement follows a series of high-profile layoffs in New Jersey’s hospitality and service industries as employers adjust to tighter budgets, reduced event attendance, and cost pressures heading into 2026.
Layoffs ripple across the state
According to state labor data, more than 70 companies have filed WARN notices in New Jersey this year, signaling a sharp rise in large-scale job losses. Since Sept. 1 alone, 2,422 additional cuts have been reported, with most concentrated in retail, finance, and service operations.
Among the biggest layoffs of the year are those at OceanFirst Bank, Iron Hill Brewery, and several major corporate employers, each citing market shifts and structural changes.
Economic uncertainty continues into 2026
Economists note that New Jersey’s labor market, while still relatively stable, is showing early signs of contraction as inflation pressures and slowing consumer spending impact multiple sectors. Large employers have cited a mix of declining demand and funding constraints as factors in their workforce reductions.
Harrison Sportservice’s filing underscores how dependent many service contractors remain on event schedules and public funding, both of which have faced volatility in recent months.
Broader picture of job cuts in 2025
Through Monday’s filings, 11,362 workers in New Jersey are slated to lose their jobs by early 2026. The state’s Department of Labor continues to monitor the wave of layoffs, which spans hospitality, banking, manufacturing, and technology.
The 10 largest workforce reductions announced this year collectively account for more than half of all planned job cuts, highlighting the depth of restructuring underway across New Jersey’s employment landscape.
