The long-awaited Bristol Arena will finally open its doors to the public in 2028, it has been reported. Malaysia-based YTL first announced plans for the 19,000-seater venue in 2018, but its construction has been hampered by years of delays.
The arena will be based at Brabazon, on the old Filton Airfield, and will be part of a huge development that includes 6,500 homes.
Work to build Brabazon New Town – as it will be called – has sparked some controversy over the years, with tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on bringing public transport links to the new suburb.
YTL’s UK chief executive has now told the BBC the arena project is “ready to go” after “lots of pricing, lots of detail”. When asked if it was a certainty the venue would open in three years’ time, he added: It’s the best guarantee I can give you”.
Original plans to build the arena in the city centre, next to Temple Meads station, were scrapped by former Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who backed the proposals for a venue on the edge of the city.
The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) and Network Rail have spent millions on building transport links to the development, including a new Brabazon train station.
The station is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2026 and will serve the new urban community and people travelling to the arena. It is being built by construction firm BAM, which also constructed Ashley Down station in the city.
Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “My Mayoral Combined Authority is going full steam ahead to open this station too – serving the new town at Brabazon and helping people get to the new arena. The West of England is continuing to secure major investment to create new jobs and economic growth now and over the coming years.”
In January, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced a £2bn investment in Brabazon New Town on a visit to the UK.
“The award-winning Brabazon Bristol development is set to transform the historic Filton Airfield site into a vibrant new ’15-minute neighbourhood’,” a spokesperson for YTL said at the time.
“The Copenhagen-inspired project will allow people to access the essential services they need – workplaces, schools, shops, public transport, healthcare and green spaces – within a 15-minute radius of their home.”
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.