Bon Secours Wellness Arena

The Well, formerly the BI-LO Center

Bon Secours Wellness Arena is the main arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on North Academy Street at the edge of downtown. It opened in 1998 as the BI-LO Center, named for the grocery chain, and was renamed on September 18, 2013, after the Bon Secours health system bought the naming rights. Locals often call it the Well.

The quick seat answer: for concerts, the floor and the lower-level sections along the sides closest to the stage are the premium seats, while lower sections at the far end face the stage head-on and show the whole production. For Swamp Rabbits hockey, take a lower-level seat at center ice. The upper corners next to the stage are the seats to avoid.

The arena holds about 15,000 for concerts, depending on the stage position, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL list hockey capacity at about 15,591. It has 30 luxury suites and 840 club seats. Besides hockey, it books arena tours, Monster Jam, bull riding, graduations and college basketball; it was one of two regional hosts of the 2023 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Reading the seating chart

The arena's own concert maps show two numbered rings around the floor:

• Lower level, sections 100 to 121: 100 through 105 run along one long side, 106 through 110 wrap the stage end, 111 through 116 run along the other long side, and 117 through 121 curve around the far end.
• Upper level, sections 200 to 233: 200 through 207 sit above one side, 208 through 215 above the stage end, 216 through 223 above the other side, and 224 through 233 above the far end.
• Floor: in the standard end-stage setup, the floor is sold in blocks labeled FL1 through FL9.

The arena publishes five concert configurations: 180, 270 and 360 end stage, a 360 center stage, and a theater end stage. On the 270 end-stage map, the lower sections 106 to 110 and upper sections 208 to 215 behind the stage are closed. Check which configuration your event uses before choosing a section, because the open sections change with it.

Best seats for concerts

End-stage shows

• Floor: FL1 through FL3, at the front, are the closest seats in the building. Floor blocks farther back are flat, so a lower-level seat often sees better than the back of the floor.
• Lower sides near the stage: sections 103–105 and 111–113 are close with an elevated angle. The sections nearest the stage on each side can lose part of the video screens.
• Lower far end: 117 through 121 face the stage straight on. They are farther away, but they show the full lighting and video design and usually cost less than the sides.
• Upper level: the center sections on the long sides and the far end facing the stage are the better value; the upper corners next to the stage are the weakest seats.

Center-stage shows

For a 360 center-stage show, the middle sections of each long side in the lower level give the best view of a stage that faces every direction.

Theater setup

The theater end stage closes much of the bowl and moves the audience toward the stage. In that layout, the lower sections facing the stage are the pick.

Swamp Rabbits hockey

For ECHL hockey, the lower-level sections at the middle of each long side are center ice, and a seat about 10 rows up clears the glass and benches. Corner sections are the value pick, with angles toward both nets. According to Stadium Journey, the upper level is often closed when projected attendance is low, so most fans sit downstairs. Two bars, Harley's Motor Lounge and the Wicked Weed Green Room, overlook the action.

Parking, rideshare and the clear-bag policy

Parking: the City of Greenville runs public garages nearby, and private lots around the arena sell spaces on event days at prices set by each owner. The VIP lot between the Church Street garage and the arena is reserved for premium seat and suite holders, apart from a limited number of first-come accessible spaces. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is at the GSP International Airport Box Office at the corner of East North Street and North Academy Street. The downtown trolley does not run to the arena, according to the arena's parking page, but it can shorten the walk from a garage or restaurant.

Clear-bag policy

As of 2026, each guest may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear plastic bag, plus one small clutch or wallet up to 5.5 by 8.5 inches. Backpacks, cinch bags, briefcases and purses larger than a clutch are not allowed. Medically necessary items are permitted after inspection.

At the doors

• Doors usually open 60 minutes before the event.
• Re-entry is not allowed for any event.
• Concessions are cashless; cash can be exchanged for a card at the box office.
• Accessible seating areas are in sections 105B, 111B and 116B, with individual accessible seats in the upper level and on the floor when available.

Rules change, so check the arena's clear-bag page before you go.

History and what comes next

The arena replaced the aging Greenville Memorial Auditorium across the street, which was imploded on September 20, 1997. The 63-million-dollar BI-LO Center opened in 1998 as the largest arena in South Carolina, a title it held until Colonial Life Arena opened in Columbia in 2002. The Bon Secours name arrived in 2013.

A master plan unveiled in April 2025 proposes a broad overhaul of the arena and surrounding district. In February 2026, Greenville County Council approved borrowing up to 140 million dollars toward the work, with total costs expected to exceed 280 million dollars and the project expected to take two to three years. Expect premium areas, entrances and some seating to change as construction proceeds. More background is on Wikipedia's arena entry.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Seating maps
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Clear Bag Policy
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena – A–Z Guide
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Parking & Ride Share
• Greenville Swamp Rabbits – Venue info
• Stadium Journey – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• FOX Carolina – County approves funding for arena upgrades (Feb. 2026)