A Fuzzy History of the Venue We Call Great Woods
Today, it’s the Xfinity Center. Tomorrow, who knows what it will be? But to so many of us, it will always be Great Woods. Recently, I put together this piece…
MANSFIELD, MA – AUGUST 14: Brandon Boyd of Incubus performs during the 2012 Honda Civic Tour at the Comcast Center on August 14, 2012 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Marc Andrew Deley/Getty Images)
Today, it's the Xfinity Center. Tomorrow, who knows what it will be? But to so many of us, it will always be Great Woods.
Recently, I put together this piece about the history of Harborlights. Specifically, its name changes over the years. I find it fascinating that the venue--currently known as Leader Bank Pavilion--is almost 30 years old and has changed its name eight times over those three decades! And even though it was only known as "Harbor Lights Pavilion" for less than two years, most of us still call it Harborlights today.
The same can be said about Great Woods, er, I mean the Xfinity Center. See what I mean? Let's take a trip back to the beginning.
A Fuzzy History of the Venue We Call Great Woods
The Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts opened in the summer of 1986. The first performer? Cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The venue soon became the go-to destination for summer music festivals throughout the 1990s, hosting local events like the WBCN River Rave and national festivals like Lollapalooza and The Lilith Fair. And in the early 2000s, Pearl Jam played three legendary nights there.
In the summer of 1999, the naming rights to Great Woods were sold and the Tweeter Center was born. Same venue, different name. But it didn't matter: everyone was still calling it Great Woods. In the summer of 2008, the facade changed yet again and we started going to shows at the Comcast Center. But no matter the name on the marquee head, you were going to Great Woods.
One more name change came in 2013, with a rebrand as the Xfinity Center. That one's stuck for over a decade now. And I hear people use it when referring to the venue. I certainly do on the air when I'm plugging a show. Most of the time. But sometimes, I still slip up and call it Great Woods. Because if you're a Boston-area rocker of a certain age like me, it'll always be Great Woods.
Flashback: Harborlights Through the Years
These days, the outdoor amphitheater on Boston's waterfront is called Leader Bank Pavilion. But I'll always call it Harborlights.
The Leader Bank Pavilion name change came about in 2021, when the aforementioned bank bought the current naming rights. And yes, I use the name when referring to the venue on the air. Which is important, because when we're giving tickets away to shows there, you gotta know where you're going. And these days, if it's an outdoor show on Boston Harbor, it's Leader Bank Pavilion.
But if you're Boston-area native and a live music fan of a certain age like I am, it's Harborlights. Because the venue was called Harbor Lights Pavilion when it opened way back in 1994. And, like true Bostonians, we immediately gave it a nickname, shortening it to Harborlights. The irony? It wasn't even two years before the name changed to Bank of Boston Pavilion. Doesn't matter. We had our name and it stuck.
I've seen so many amazing shows there over the years I could put together an entirely different piece just focusing on those. I'll just single out a pair here. Radiohead, touring on OK Computer, with Teenage Fanclub supporting, summer of '97. I wrote about that one here. And then there was Foo Fighters in the summer of '03. Crusher of a gig. Read about that one over here.
Flashback: Harborlights Through the Years
I thought it might be fun to go through a history of the name changes at Harborlights over the years, so I did. Believe it or not, the venue has changed its name eight times in its almost-30-year history. So let's step back to 1994, then take a trip through Boston Harbor through the years. We'll end up back in present-day at Leader Bank Pavilion, of course. But you and I both know: it's really Harborlights.
Harborlights Pavilion
Here's what the Boston waterfront looked like back when Harborlights opened at Fan Pier. Just kidding, it wasn't that long ago; it was only 1994. 13th July 1895: The departure of the SS Gamia from the wharf in Boston, USA. (Photo by Henry Guttmann Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Bank of Boston Pavilion
It didn't take long for the "Harbor" from Harborlights to fall into the Harbor: the venues first sponsor-driven name was the Bank of Boston Pavilion. AT SEA - MAY 19: In this handout from the U.S. Navy, the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) makes her way into historic Boston Harbor as crew members are in formation on the flight deck to spell-out "JACK IS BACK" May 19, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. Kennedy Sailors, and embarked Marines assigned to Marine Expeditionary Unit Two Four (MEU 24), man-the-rails as the ship pulls into port. Kennedy and the 24th MEU are in Boston for a scheduled port visit. (Photo by Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
BankBoston Pavilion
BankBoston Pavilion became the name in 1996. After the US District Court House was built on the old site, the Pavilion was moved to it's current location in Southie. Construction cranes litter the Boston skyline May 6, 2000 as the "Big Dig" reconstructs Boston's roadways and harbor. The U.S. government is considering halting funding to the project unless it can rectify its financial crisis. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Newsmakers) ,,,,
FleetBoston Pavilion
Remember when the Garden was the FleetCenter? Well, right around that time (1999, to be exact), the Pavilion was the FleetBoston Pavilion. BOSTON - JULY 20: State Police patrol boats stand ready for next weeks Democratic National Convention, to be held at the Fleet Center July 20, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston is putting the final touches on preparations for next weeks DNC to be held at the Fleet Center, including heightened security measures, parking restrictions, and road closures. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Bank of America Pavilion
This pic was taken in the Harbor in 2004, when the FleetBoston Pavilion became the Bank of America Pavilion. BOSTON - JULY 28: A boat with a Kerry/Edwards sign waits in the Boston harbor July 28, 2004 at the Charlestown Navy Yard across the bay from the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Kerry made his entrance into Boston today to accept his parties nomination at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
After a 10-year run, the name changed again in 2014, as the beloved venue on the Harbor became Blue Hills Bank Pavilion. BOSTON - MAY 8: In this handout from the U.S. Coast Guard, a U.S. Coast Guard boat helps the Liquified Natural Gas container ship Berge Everett as it comes inbound May 8, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kelly Turner/U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images)
Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
In 2019, Rockland Trust bought Blue Hills Bank and the name changed yet again. BOSTON, MA - MARCH 2: A general view of the Laver Cup trophy in the seaport neighborhood of Boston seen in front of the citys skyline in promotion of Laver Cup Boston 2020 on March 2, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images for The Laver Cup)
Leader Bank Pavilion
In the city of Boston, the only constant is change, so 2021 has brought yet another iteration of Harborlights: when the venue opens again in 2021, it will open as Leader Bank Pavilion. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 13: A view of high rise apartment and office buildings in the Seaport neighborhood on May 13, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. There have been over 11,000 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reported in Boston. A stay at home order was put into effect by Governor Charlie Baker on March 24 and Phase 1 of reopening the state is expected to begin May 18. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
