Memorial Stadium (Bristol) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Memorial Stadium

The Mem
DriBuild Stand at the Memorial Stadium, c. 2010
Former names	Memorial Ground
Location	Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0AQ
Coordinates	51°29′10″N 2°34′59″W / 51.4862°N 2.5831°W / 51.4862; -2.5831
Public transit	Ashley Down
Owner	Bristol Rovers F.C.
Capacity	12,500
Record attendance	12,011 (Bristol Rovers vs West Bromwich Albion, 9 March 2008)
Field size	101 × 68 metres
Surface	Grass
Opened	24 September 1921
Tenants
Bristol Rovers (1996–present) Bristol Rovers Women (2024–present) Bristol Rugby (1921–2014)

The Memorial Stadium, often called The Mem, is a famous sports ground in Bristol, England. It is the home of Bristol Rovers Football Club. The stadium first opened in 1921. It was built to remember local rugby union players who bravely fought and died in the First World War. For many years, it was also the home of Bristol Rugby Club until they moved to Ashton Gate in 2014.

Stadium History

Bristol Rovers playing Manchester United at the Memorial Stadium, 1999

How the Stadium Began

The land where the stadium now stands was once known as Buffalo Bill's Field. This was because Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show performed there in 1891. A few years later, in 1893, Clifton RFC played rugby on the site.

During the First World War, the field was used for growing food. After the war, the Sheriff of Bristol, Sir Francis Nicholas Cowlin, bought the land. He gave it to Bristol Rugby Club. The stadium, then called the Memorial Ground, officially opened on September 24, 1921. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, G. B. Britton, opened it.

Changes Over the Years

The stadium is located on Filton Avenue in Horfield, Bristol. It has been updated many times. When Bristol Rugby played their first game there against Cardiff, a huge crowd watched from simple wooden stands. In the late 1980s, the club started to improve the stadium. They replaced an old stand with the Centenary Stand in 1988, celebrating the club's 100th birthday. The West Stand, which was one of the original parts of the ground, was taken down and rebuilt in 1995.

Bristol Rovers Arrive

In 1996, Bristol Rovers started using the stadium as tenants. They later became joint owners with Bristol Rugby Club. In 1998, the rugby club faced money problems. This meant Bristol Rovers could buy their share of the stadium for a small fee. The rugby club then became tenants in their old home.

By 2005, Bristol Rugby Club was back in the top league, the Guinness Premiership. Bristol Rovers continued to play in the lower Football League divisions. A roof was added to the Clubhouse Terrace, paid for by Bristol Rovers fans. Temporary stands were also put up, increasing the stadium's capacity to 11,916. Bristol Rugby was relegated again in 2009.

Bristol Rugby's Departure

In February 2013, Bristol Rugby announced they would move to Ashton Gate. They would share the stadium with Bristol City. The rugby club played its last game at "The Mem" on June 4, 2014. It was a play-off final against London Welsh. Sadly, Bristol lost the game, meaning they stayed out of the top league for another season.

A Place for Remembrance

The stadium remains important to the Bristol community. A minute of silence is held each year around Remembrance Sunday. On November 11, a special service is held at the Memorial Gates. Players and officials from both Bristol Rovers and Bristol Rugby attend this service. In 2015, the memorial gates were unfortunately damaged by some supporters.

Other Ways the Stadium is Used

The Memorial Stadium is not just for professional football and rugby. It also hosts the rugby match between the city's universities: the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol.

In 2013, the stadium hosted a Rugby League World Cup match. The Cook Islands played against the United States. Over 7,000 fans came to watch. Gloucester Rugby also played two friendly matches here in 2015. This was while their home ground was being used for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The stadium has even been used for creative projects. In 2017, people were invited to form a crowd to record sounds for the Aardman Animations film Early Man. The stadium also appears in music videos for artists like Kano and Idles'.

The Stadium's Future Plans

Early Redevelopment Ideas

Years ago, the Memorial Stadium Company suggested a big £35 million plan to update the stadium. The idea was to make it an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,500. In 2007, Bristol City Council approved these plans.

The new stadium was planned to include a hotel, student flats, a restaurant, a shop, offices, and a public gym. However, the redevelopment faced many delays. Problems with legal agreements and finding new partners for the student accommodation pushed the project back. By 2011, the work still hadn't started.

Plans for a New Stadium

In June 2011, Bristol Rovers announced they wanted to move to a brand new stadium, the UWE Stadium. The plan was to sell the Memorial Stadium to a supermarket chain, Sainsbury's. This sale would help fund the new stadium. Planning permission for the UWE Stadium was granted in 2012, and for Sainsbury's plans in 2013.

However, legal challenges caused more delays. In 2014, Sainsbury's decided to pull out of the project. Bristol Rovers took them to court but lost the case and an appeal. This left the new stadium plans in doubt.

Focusing on the Memorial Stadium Again

In August 2017, after a new owner took over the club, Bristol Rovers decided to stop pursuing the UWE Stadium. Instead, they would focus on redeveloping the Memorial Stadium.

Before the 2019/20 League One season, Rovers updated the bar under the Poplar Insulation stand. It reopened as a "club superstore."

Recent Updates and Future Vision

In April 2023, Bristol Rovers announced plans to remove the South Stand. This was a temporary stand that had been there since 1995. By June 2023, the stand was completely removed, ready for rebuilding. The new stand will add 3,414 seats, bringing the stadium's total capacity to 12,500. Work on the new stand began, and planning permission was officially granted in November 2023.

In October 2023, the club's new owner, Hussain AlSaeed, confirmed that plans for a completely new stadium at a different site had fallen through. The club will now focus on improving the Memorial Stadium. Future plans include developing the East and North stands. This would increase the stadium's capacity to between 16,000 and 17,000 seats.

Average Attendances