BB&T Pavilion was a major outdoor amphitheater situated on the Camden Waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, directly across the Delaware River from downtown Philadelphia. Opened in June 1995 under the name Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre, the venue carried the BB&T Pavilion name from 2015 to 2022 after BB&T bank acquired the naming rights previously held by Susquehanna Bank.
Owned by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and operated by Live Nation, the amphitheater earned a reputation as one of North America’s premier summer concert destinations. Pollstar ranked it the No. 2 outdoor amphitheater in the world for ticket sales in 2018, when it sold 505,287 tickets — a testament to its consistent draw and iconic riverfront backdrop featuring views of the Philadelphia skyline and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Camden, New Jersey
- Type: Outdoor amphitheater / indoor theater
- Opened: June 1995
- Outdoor Capacity: 25,488
- Winter/Indoor Capacity: Up to 7,000
- Operator: Live Nation Entertainment
- Famous for: Pollstar No. 2 worldwide outdoor amphitheater (2018)
Waterfront Setting and Live Experience
BB&T Pavilion’s position on the Camden Waterfront gave concertgoers one of the most scenic settings of any major amphitheater in the Northeast. Fans on the lawn enjoyed unobstructed views of the Philadelphia skyline, the Delaware River, and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge — a backdrop that elevated performances by Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, and Jimmy Buffett.
The outdoor stage anchored summer seasons drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees, while a fully enclosed, climate-controlled theater configuration let the facility operate year-round with seating for up to 7,000 guests, hosting concerts, Broadway theatrical productions, and family entertainment through the fall and winter months.
A History of Rebranding and Enduring Popularity
The venue cycled through five official names: Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre (1995), Tweeter Center (2001), Susquehanna Bank Center (2008), BB&T Pavilion (2015), and Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (May 2022). Each corporate rebrand reflected a change in naming-rights sponsor, but the venue’s standing as a top-tier summer amphitheater remained constant throughout.
Neighboring the Adventure Aquarium, Wiggins Park, and the Battleship New Jersey Museum, the site was a cornerstone of the broader Camden Waterfront entertainment district. Its combination of large-scale capacity, premier sightlines, and proximity to Philadelphia’s metropolitan area kept it among the highest-grossing outdoor venues in the world during the BB&T era.
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BB&T Pavilion FAQs
Where is BB&T Pavilion located?
BB&T Pavilion was located at 1 Harbour Boulevard on the Camden Waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
What is BB&T Pavilion called now?
The venue was renamed Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in May 2022, after briefly operating as Waterfront Music Pavilion during the transition from the BB&T name.
What is the capacity of BB&T Pavilion?
As an outdoor summer amphitheater, BB&T Pavilion held up to 25,488 guests. In its winter indoor configuration, the climate-controlled theater accommodated up to 7,000 people.
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Photo by Mariya Eskina on Pexels.