Football / Bristol Rovers
Plans for new Rovers stadium abandoned
Bristol Rovers‘ plans to build a new 21,000 seat stadium on in Stoke Gifford have been abandoned, after the club was unable to “agree acceptable terms” with UWE, according to a statement on their website.
The club had hoped that they would be able to build the new stadium on land owned by the university, freeing up their current Memorial Ground site for development. However, they have now failed to close a deal that has been malingering for over six years.
In 2011, a deal was struck between Bristol Rovers, UWE and Sainsbury’s, who planned to build a new supermarket on the Horfield site. Sainsbury’s later pulled out, and in 2015 Rovers lost their high-court battle against the supermarket giant.
is needed now More than ever
They say they will now “immediately turn our attention to exploring all other opportunities for a new stadium or for a substantive redevelopment of the Memorial Stadium, whilst at the same time continuing to develop the new colony training ground.”
Vice-chancellor of UWE Bristol, Steve West, said: “UWE Bristol has not given up on this hugely important project. We have been and remain committed to delivering a new stadium and were disappointed to hear from Dwane Sports that they wish to bring negotiations over the proposed stadium at UWE Bristol to a close.
“We have always wanted the stadium project as part of our vision for the University and wider Bristol community masterplan for the Frenchay Campus. We still believe it would bring great benefits to the university, local community and the regional economy.
“We have worked diligently and patiently with the new owners of the club and although we have been disappointed by the slow pace of negotiations, we are still willing and open to continue negotiations.”
Read more: Heartache and pain of Rovers stadium debacle
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
