BankNH Pavilion facts for kids
| Former names | Meadowbrook Farm (1996–2001) Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center (2001–07) Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion (2007–13) Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (2013–2023) BankNH Pavilion (2023–present) |
|---|---|
| Address | 72 Meadowbrook Ln Gilford, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 43°34′48″N 71°24′47″W / 43.58000°N 71.41306°W |
| Owner | Meadowbrook Amphitheater Holdings |
| Operator | Live Nation |
| Capacity | 9,000 |
| Opened | August 16, 1996 |
The BankNH Pavilion is a cool outdoor concert place in Gilford, New Hampshire, near Lake Winnipesaukee. It opened in 1996 and can hold almost 9,000 people! Imagine watching your favorite band there. About 6,000 seats are under a roof, and nearly 3,400 are on the lawn.
Contents
Discovering the Pavilion's History
How the Pavilion Started
The land where the BankNH Pavilion now stands was once owned by the Miller family. They used it for fun family vacations and get-togethers. They even held small family concerts there. Even though the land changed owners, the Miller family still owns property right next to the pavilion today.
Building a Concert Venue
In early 1996, the area became a summer concert spot called "Meadowbrook Farm." It started with a temporary stage and seats for about 4,500 people. Five years later, in 2001, its name changed to "Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center." This new name showed that it was growing into a bigger music venue. Soon, a permanent stage was built to replace the old temporary one.
Big Changes and New Features
The biggest changes happened in 2002. A large roof was added over the main seating area. This meant more than 3,000 seats were now covered. They also added special reserved lawn seats and general admission lawn seats.
In 2005, Meadowbrook added a "Second Stage." This was a tented area with a bar where local bands could play music. Concertgoers could enjoy these bands before and after the main show.
New Names and Awards
In 2007, the venue got a new name again. It became the "Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion" after a company called U.S. Cellular signed a naming agreement. That same year, the Academy of Country Music nominated Meadowbrook for "Venue of the Year." This was a big honor!
In 2013, the pavilion grew even more. They added nearly 3,000 more covered seats. Two new parking lots were built, and a second road was added to help people get in and out easily. In April 2013, the amphitheater changed its name to "Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion."
Record-Breaking Shows
The band Sugarland holds the record for the most people at a show here. Their concert on September 5, 2010, was completely sold out. This was the second time in two years that a Sugarland show filled the venue.
The Latest Name Change
In 2023, the pavilion changed its name one more time. It is now known as the BankNH Pavilion.
See also
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
