PNC Music Pavilion was a 19,500-capacity outdoor amphitheater in the University City area of Charlotte, North Carolina, that served as one of the Carolinas’ premier stops on the summer touring circuit. Opened on July 4, 1991, the Live Nation-operated venue carried the PNC name from 2013 until 2026, when it became Truliant Amphitheater under a new naming-rights deal.
Before PNC took over naming rights, the venue was known as Blockbuster Pavilion (1991–2001) and Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2001–2013). Through every name change, the amphitheater’s mix of covered pavilion seating and sprawling lawn kept it a fixture of Charlotte’s live music scene, drawing acts across rock, country, pop, and R&B each summer.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina (University City)
- Type: Outdoor amphitheater
- Opened: July 4, 1991
- Capacity: About 19,500 (7,232 pavilion seats, 2,221 reserved lawn seats, 10,000 general admission)
- Operator: Live Nation
- Now known as: Truliant Amphitheater (renamed 2026)
- Famous for: Hosting Paul McCartney’s final North American concert of his 1993 New World Tour, broadcast on Fox
A Charlotte Concert Institution
For more than three decades, the amphitheater off US 29 near the I-485 outerbelt drew touring acts to Charlotte, largely succeeding the Paladium at Carowinds as the region’s go-to outdoor concert venue. Its blend of covered seating under the pavilion roof and open lawn space let it host everything from major rock and pop tours to country package shows and jazz and R&B festivals.
One of the venue’s most notable moments came on June 15, 1993, when Paul McCartney closed out his New World Tour there in a concert broadcast nationally on Fox, cementing the amphitheater’s reputation as a stage capable of hosting the biggest names in music.
From Blockbuster Pavilion to Truliant Amphitheater
The venue’s identity has shifted with its sponsors: it opened as Blockbuster Pavilion in 1991, became Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in 2001, and took the PNC Music Pavilion name in 2013. In 2026, a new naming-rights agreement with Truliant Federal Credit Union renamed it Truliant Amphitheater, though longtime Charlotte concertgoers still often refer to it by its PNC-era name.
Despite the rebranding, the venue’s physical footprint, capacity, and role as Charlotte’s primary outdoor amphitheater have remained unchanged.
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PNC Music Pavilion FAQs
Is PNC Music Pavilion still called that?
No. The venue was renamed Truliant Amphitheater in 2026 after a new naming-rights deal, following its run as PNC Music Pavilion from 2013 to 2026.
What is the capacity of PNC Music Pavilion?
The venue holds about 19,500 people, made up of roughly 7,232 covered pavilion seats, 2,221 reserved lawn seats, and 10,000 general admission spots.
When did PNC Music Pavilion open?
The amphitheater opened on July 4, 1991, originally under the name Blockbuster Pavilion.
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