YTL Arena Bristol ‘facing further delays’

YTL Arena Bristol is now reportedly facing up to a likely opening date of 2028 as efforts continue to deliver what will become the UK’s fourth largest arena.

The project’s website currently states that an official opening date will only be announced once the site enabling and demolition phase of work has been completed, but the Bristol Post, citing new information sent by developer YTL to Bristol City Council, said late 2027 is now the earliest realistic opening.

In September, it was reported that YTL Arena was not expected to open until 2027 at the earliest as enabling works continued at the former Filton Airfield site. The tentative timeline for the project to deliver a 19,000-capacity arena, plus wider entertainment and cultural offerings, came with YTL Construction UK still preparing the Brabazon Hangars at the site, with developers stating they were still in the enabling works phase of the project.

The Post said YTL last month submitted a new updated planning application, amending the final design of the façade and roof of the structure, which is said will be the biggest single building in Bristol.

Bristol City Council planners validated the application, with residents in the local area being issued with letters detailing the proposed changes prior to Christmas. The application came complete with a cover letter from YTL stating the work to prepare the buildings for the conversion was still progressing, and that design amendments signalled the start “in earnest” of the work to actually develop the arena.

The letter told planners work to remove all the asbestos from the three linked hangars had finally been completed, with the project moving to the ‘demolition phase’ in the New Year. The Post said that with the conversion and building work due to take two and a half years from the point where the demolition phase is complete, this puts the completion date into late 2027 at the earliest, and more likely 2028.

An array of outdoor attractions were revealed in May aiming to make YTL Arena a “cultural hub”, following the submission of detailed plans for the new venue in the English city. In addition to the arena, artist’s impressions included large public squares in front of the refurbished Brabazon Hangars with the likes of an outdoor cinema, sports courts and a Christmas ice rink being planned.

Renderings detailed an east and a west square directly outside new conference and exhibition halls which flank the main central concert seating bowl. Also included in the complex will be badminton courts, a tennis court, a multi-use games area for sports such as basketball and five-a-side football, and a pump track for cycling.

Preparation works commenced in March on the transformation of the Brabazon Hangars into a live entertainment complex that will be anchored by YTL Arena. The project has faced several delays and in January 2023 the opening date for the arena was pushed back until late 2025 or early 2026.

Speaking in March, Andrew Billingham, chief executive of YTL Arena Bristol, said that once main construction has started, a two-and-a-half-year build programme is estimated.

Once completed, YTL Arena will be the fourth largest indoor arena in the UK, behind Manchester’s Co-op Live and AO Arena, and The O2 in London.