Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater located near Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is approximately long and from wide , covering — when Paugus Bay is included—with a maximum depth of ....

 in Gilford, New Hampshire

Gilford, New Hampshire

Gilford is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,126 at the 2010 census. Situated on Lake Winnipesaukee, Gilford is home to Governors Island, Ellacoya State Beach, Belknap Mountain State Forest, Gunstock Mountain Ski Resort, and Meadowbrook U.S...

, USA.

History

The land was originally owned by the Miller family, who used the property for summer vacations, weekend excursions, and general family entertainment. By the early 1900s, cottages began to pop up on the property. The family continued to use the land to hold family concerts and gatherings for many years ahead. While ownership of the land where the venue is located changed hands, the Miller family today still owns property next to the pavilion.

In early 1996, Meadowbrook was created as a summer concert venue. Originally known as Meadowbrook Farm, the pavilion consisted of a temporary stage, 2,500 portable seats and a lawn that held 2,000 people.

The venue was renamed five years later to the Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center, to better reflect the growing direction of the farm. A permanent stage soon replaced the temporary one.

In 2002, the venue began its most major renovation to date. A pavilion roof was installed, along with 3,097 reserved seats (with capabilities to remove seats if necessary for general admission shows), 540 reserved lawn seats, and 2,850 general admission lawn seats.

In 2005, Meadowbrook added its Second Stage, a tented area with a full-service bar where local bands play for concertgoers prior to and following the actual concert.

In 2007, U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular

United States Cellular Corporation, d.b.a. U.S. Cellular , owns and operates the sixth largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, behind Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA, and Metro PCS. , they serve about 6.1 million customers in 126 markets in...

 signed a naming agreement with the venue, leading to its current name, the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. Also in 2007, Meadowbrook was nominated for Venue of the Year by the Academy of Country Music

Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...

.

Meadowbrook is one of only a few outdoor amphitheatres located in New England that is not owned by the major media conglomerate, Live Nation

Live Nation

Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....

.

Sugarland currently holds the venue's attendance record. Their September 5, 2010 performance there - with Ellis Paul

Ellis Paul

Ellis Paul is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Aroostook County, Maine, Paul is a key figure in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, a literate, provocative and urbanely romantic folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s...

opening - was the second time in two years that a Sugarland show was a sell-out.