Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Charlotte

The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Charlotte is an outdoor amphitheater in Charlotte, North Carolina that specializes in hosting large concerts. The facility originally opened as the Blockbuster Pavilion in 1991, and largely replaced the Paladium Amphitheater at Carowinds as the premier outdoor concert venue in the Metrolina region. It was renamed in 2000. The amphitheater is located on Pavilion Boulevard in the University City neighborhood near the US 29/I-485 (Outerbelt) interchange. The venue is operated by Live Nation, a concert company. There are other Verizon Wireless Amphitheatres around the United States. The amphitheater hosts many different varieties of acts, including rock, alternative, pop, country, jazz, and rhythm and blues along with special events and festivals of all kinds. The venue gained some notoriety in 2005 when Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran referred to the city of Charlotte as "Charlotte, Virginia". Paul McCartney's final North American tour date on his 1993 "New World Tour" was held at the amphitheater on June 15, 1993. The show was nationally broadcasted on the FOX network, who aired commercials in place of some live songs. The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte is a popular stop for summer tours, usually sandwiched between shows in Raleigh, NC and Atlanta, GA's similarly sized venues. The Vans Warped Tour, Ozzfest, and other traveling festivals generally always make an appearance at this venue.