Industry News

VIDEO: A New Lease of Life – Bristol’s Ashton Gate

TheStadiumBusiness has been discussing the business model of Bristol’s Ashton Gate with Mark Kelly, the venue’s managing director. The stadium, home to Bristol City Football Club and Bristol Rugby, recently underwent major renovation work and is reaping the rewards.

“It was important that we maximised the stadium, rather than 40 odd times a year for football and rugby,” Kelly said. “The brief is a 365 operation – and also return on investment and sustainability.

“They are very much overused words, but that has come to fruition through the first 18 months of trading.”

Kelly goes on to discuss the stadium’s match-day revenue, as well as the opportunities and challenges that being a 365-day-a-year venue can bring. Other topics covered include plans for an on-site hotel, what the stadium industry can learn from the hotel sector, and the much-delayed Bristol Arena project.

You can watch TheStadiumBusiness’ chat with Kelly in full here:

Mark is a key speaker at TheStadiumBusiness Summit on 12-13 June, hosting a panel discussion on leveraging a stadium hotel investment. Programme here.