Bristol Arena opening date delayed but capacity increased

The boss of Bristol’s long-awaited arena has stressed that YTL remains “totally committed” to building the entertainment complex, despite further delays to the project.

The likely opening date for YTL Arena Bristol to open is now late 2025 to early 2026, with the capacity set to be increased from 17,000 to 19,000 making more space for the most expensive seats.

Delays have been caused by the pandemic as well as “general challenges in the construction market”.

Construction work for a new train station next to the arena on the site of the former Filton Airfield could begin more than a year after the new arena opens, it was recently revealed.

In an update on Monday, YTL Arena Bristol CEO, Andrew Billingham, said that discussions are continuing to speed this up, with the new train line also currently planned to run only once an hour.

The arena will be located next to ‘Brabazon Park’, set to be a similar size of Castle Park – image: YTL

Billingham said: “We have been making good progress on the development of YTL Arena Bristol and are now entering the final stages of design and talking with major contractors.

“Work has begun on key pieces of infrastructure required including new road connections, establishing new power supplies and site preparation works.

“The train station at Brabazon is an important element and discussions continue on how this might be brought forward.

“Given delays resulting from the impact of Covid and the general challenges in the construction market, our estimated opening is now late 2025 to early 2026.

“YTL is totally committed to opening Bristol’s first major indoor music arena and entertainment complex.

“We have been improving our design and have created the opportunity to increase the maximum capacity of the Arena from 17,000 to 19,000, with over 2,000 premium seats…

“As both owner and operator of YTL Arena Bristol, our ambition has always been to create a vibrant and unique mix of bars and lounges in our design which showcase the very best of Bristol.”

What the lobby of the long-awaited arena could look like – image: YTL

Interior designers Studio B have been working with YTL on the arena project.

Previous work from the Clifton Village-based company include The Wave in Easter Compton in South Gloucestershire, and Swim in Lyme Regis in Dorset.

Studio B founder Kyle Clarke said: “Since we received the instruction, we’ve been completely consumed with designing selected spaces within the arena to completely blow the customer experience through the roof.

“There isn’t another arena in the country that will come close. Huge hats off to the YTL Arena team for working with our relatively small, young, ambitious Bristol studio.

“Together, we’ve got exciting plans to bring in other local artists and small businesses, harnessing Bristol’s endless skill and talent to ensure the arena feels proudly part of the city.”

The three Brabazon hangars will be interlinked “but each will offer their own unique experience for visitors” – image: YTL

Main image: YTL

Read next:

• Queen play secret gig in Brabazon hangars
• MP warns of ‘travel chaos’ if new station for YTL Arena is delayed
• Mayor promises to steer ahead with underground railway

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