Venue News | Jerry Garcia Amphitheater To Keep Its Name

Earlier this year a bit of controversy ensued when Levitt Pavilions, a non-profit organization, was in negotiations to renovate San Francisco’s Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in a move that would lead to the venue being rebranded as “Levitt Pavilion San Francisco at Jerry Garcia Meadow.” Deadheads united to voice their opposition to the change, with nearly 5,000 of them signing a petition against the move. Yesterday Levitt officially passed on the site, meaning that the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater won’t be renamed anytime soon according to SFGate.com.

“This is the neighborhood Jerry grew up in, the locals and Deadheads will always fight a name change!” Jerry Garcia’s daughter Trixie said in a statement as reported by SFGate.com. “I am proud and honored that San Francisco, especially the local communities surrounding the Amphitheater, memorialized my dad with the naming of the Amphitheater and see it as my duty to help protect that name.”

It’s unclear how much of an effect the opposition to the name change had on Levitt’s decision to pass. “The assessment that was happening got preempted by this other controversy, I think we would have come to the same conclusion that it just wasn’t the right fit,” Levitt spokeswoman Vanessa Silberman told SFGate. The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater recently hosted “Jerry Day” featuring Melvin Seals & JGB, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel and other acts on August 4. The venue also hosts “Saturday In The Park” concerts.