Bristol Arena facts for kids
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Bristol Arena
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| Location | Southmead, Bristol |
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| Coordinates | 51°30′59″N 2°35′06″W / 51.5163°N 2.5851°W |
| Owner | YTL Corporation |
| Capacity | 19,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2003 (original BTM location) |
| Built | TBC |
| Opened | 2025 or 2026 (proposed) |
| Construction cost | £100 million |
| Architect | Grimshaw Architects with MANICA Architecture |
| General contractor | Avison Young |
The YTL Arena Bristol is a huge indoor stadium planned for Bristol, England. It will be able to hold 19,000 people. This new arena will be built inside the old Brabazon hangar at the former Filton Airfield.
Original plans were to build the arena near Bristol Temple Meads railway station. This was in the heart of Bristol. The idea was to finish it by 2020. However, these plans changed. In 2018, the city decided not to build the arena there. This was mainly because of high costs and risks.
In 2019, a company called YTL Corporation suggested building the arena at the old Filton Airfield site instead. They got permission in 2020. Construction was expected to start in 2022. The arena is now hoped to open in late 2025 or early 2026.
Contents
Why Bristol Needs an Arena
Bristol is one of the biggest cities in the UK. But it does not have a large indoor stadium. Other major cities like Leeds have venues like the First Direct Arena. Bristol's biggest music places, like the Colston Hall and the O2 Academy, only hold about 2,000 people. This means big concerts and events often skip Bristol.
Early Ideas for the Arena
The first ideas for a Bristol Arena came out in 2003. It was meant to have 10,000 seats. It would host music, sports, and conferences. The goal was to open it by 2008. This would have helped Bristol's bid to become the European Capital of Culture.
By 2007, work had not even started. A lot of money had already been spent just to buy and clear the land. Later that year, these plans were stopped. Developers said they needed much more public money to build it.
New Plans and Challenges
By 2009, new plans for the arena were being discussed. One idea was to build it near Temple Meads again. Another was to build it next to Bristol City's planned football stadium. Legal issues with the football stadium made the city look at the Temple Meads site again in 2012.
The land near Temple Meads was once a train depot. It is part of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. This is a special area for new businesses. In 2013, a new road bridge was built over the River Avon. This bridge connected the arena site to the main road and train station. It was named Brock's Bridge in 2016.
When George Ferguson became Mayor of Bristol, he started a competition. He wanted the best design for a 12,000-seat arena. He promised it would be very eco-friendly. He also wanted it built within four years.
Original Arena Proposal (Temple Meads)
In February 2014, the city council approved the money for the arena. The total cost was £91 million. The council would pay £38 million. The rest would come from a local business partnership.
Choosing a Design
In November 2014, five architects were chosen to design the arena. The winning design was by Populous. It was shown in March 2015. The arena was designed to be very energy efficient. It could also change its layout easily. This meant it could hold events for 4,000 to 12,000 people.
In March 2016, the plans faced a problem. The city's planning committee felt the proposals were "defective." They needed more information about parking and transport. Mayor Ferguson said this decision put the whole project at risk. After more updates to the transport plan, the arena finally got permission in April 2016.
Delays and Changes
In January 2017, the arena's opening was pushed back to 2020. This happened because the city council and the building company could not agree on costs. Later, a different company, Buckingham Group, started some early work. The council also asked for an independent review of the project's value.
In November 2017, new ideas came out. These suggested building the arena inside the Brabazon Hangar at the old Filton Airfield. This site is on the edge of the city.
In September 2018, Mayor Marvin Rees decided to stop the Temple Meads arena plans. He chose the Brabazon Hangar as the only option. The main reasons were the high building cost for the council and the financial risks. He also felt the planned arena size was too small for big events. The mayor believed a different type of development at Temple Meads would create more jobs.
Parking Concerns
One common criticism of the Temple Meads arena plans was the lack of parking. Initial plans had very few dedicated parking spaces. Mayor Ferguson argued that building a huge car park there would be "completely mad." However, in February 2016, the council considered adding an eight-story car park with 480 spaces.
Current Plans (Filton Airfield)
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The company that owns the old Bristol Filton Airport, YTL Corporation, shared new plans in early 2019. They proposed a 17,000-seat indoor arena inside the huge Brabazon hangar. They are working with Avison Young, Grimshaw, and MANICA Architecture. The arena's design will allow it to change size. It can hold events for 4,000 to 17,000 people.
The plans include a special walkway, like the one at Wembley Stadium. There will also be 36 'Brabazon Steps' and a 75-meter bridge over a railway line. The new entrance will be raised above the hangar floor. This will offer views of the old runway.
The hangars next to the main one will also be used. The east hangar will become a "Festival Hall." It will host exhibitions and large events. The west hangar, called "The Hub," will have small businesses, food places, and fun activities.
Planning permission was given in 2020. Construction was planned to start in 2022. The arena was first expected to open by 2024.
The area around the old airfield is also being developed. South Gloucestershire Council plans to build 2,675 new homes there. This new neighborhood is called Brabazon. Building started in 2020, and the first residents moved in during 2021.
In January 2023, the arena's opening was delayed again. It is now expected in late 2025 or early 2026. However, the arena's capacity will be even bigger, holding 19,000 people. This is thanks to new design improvements.
In February 2023, plans for a new train package were reviewed. This was due to rising costs. The costs had gone up a lot from what was first approved. This also caused delays to the train project.
In January 2024, YTL got permission to build more homes nearby. This includes 1,500 student apartments and 400 private homes. These will be close to the arena and public transport.
