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 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.