Here we grow again! Big things are on the horizon for our beloved Well.
GenX and some Millennials will remember the Memorial Auditorium.The precursor to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena opened in 1958. The project planning began in 1938. Twenty years, two world wars, and countless lawsuits later, the first event was held. On December 1, 1958, Furman University played basketball against West Virginia in the new Memorial Auditorium. We won’t talk about the fact that I graduated in the original auditorium… hello, I’m old.
Situated on the corner of East North and Church Streets, the Auditorium hosted sporting events, music mega stars and various shows well into the 90s. For years, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus walked elephants through downtown Greenville to the auditorium.
Fun Fact: The original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band played its last concert in Memorial Auditorium October 19,1997. The next day, three band members died in a plane crash on the way to Louisiana.
A Little Bit of History
Greenville Arena District occupies the land once known as Little Texas. Today a Historical Marker stands with an inscription that reads: “William E. Earle acquired much of the land now bounded by Beattie Pl., N. Church, Academy, and E. North Sts. at a foreclosure sale in 1869. He subdivided the land and sold the parcels. Much of the land was purchased by African Americans, including Milton Brooks, a 30-year-old laborer who bought the first lot in 1872. The community grew from about a dozen families in 1876 to become a neighborhood of more than 75 houses by the 1920s. Little Texas developed just south of Allen School.
Allen School, which had its origins as a Freedmen’s school in the 1860s, was a fixture of the neighborhood until a new Allen School was built on Stone Ave. in 1936. Memorial Auditorium was built adjacent to Little Texas in 1958. As the city continued to expand, Little Texas would succumb to the pressures of urban development. In 1971 the city condemned 65 homes in order to use the land for future development, effectively marking the end of Little Texas.”
What’s Next?
Recently we were privileged to preview expansion plans for the Greenville Arena District. When Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly known as Bi-Lo Center) opened in September 1998, it seemed perfect for Greenville. Today, it’s obvious we’ve outgrown the facility. With no freight elevator and only eight postage-stamp sized windows in the entire building, changes can’t come soon enough. Neetu Patel, GAD Board Chair, speaking to the group used the analogy of a 1996 Honda in 2025. It’s time for upgrades and improvements.
Beth Paul, General Manager, shared the planned enhancements. Paul says, “our mission is to enhance every aspect of the arena – from the surrounding campus and the building itself to the fan and client experiences, sustainability programming, and security. By doing this, we hope to attract premier talent and set the stage for unforgettable memories.”
The Well is essentially the gateway to Greenville. All three entrances will be re-designed, with the main entry moving away from busy Academy Street. The VIP door will not have a mountain of steps making access easier. Windows and interior lights will be added, making outsiders able to see inside. Enlarged concourse and expanded restrooms will limit lines considerably. Premium seating will be added.
Drum roll please… A 6,500 seat amphitheater with a parking podium underneath is part of the master plan! Greenville’s downtown skyline will be the backdrop for this stage. It’s sure to entice touring acts we may be losing to competing arenas. The best part – “we do not anticipate a shutdown of arena operations,” says Beth Paul.
As Greenville continues to grow and evolve, so does this iconic venue. The upcoming changes do not only signal a physical transformation, but a renewed commitment to the cultural and entertainment experiences in our great city! 