YTL Arena ‘will open’ in 2028

Bristol’s long-awaited YTL Arena will open in 2028, according to the chief executive of the company behind the project.

Plans for the 19,500-capacity arena were announced back in 2018, but it has faced several delays over the years. In January, it was reported that the arena was facing up to a likely opening date of 2028.

Later in the month, the project received a boost as Malaysian conglomerate YTL announced plans to invest £4bn (€4.8bn/$5.2bn) into the UK over the next five years. Around half of this will go towards the Brabazon Bristol development, which will house YTL Arena.

YTL UK chief executive Colin Skellett discussed the project this week in an interview with the BBC. He said that the arena is “ready to go” after “lots of pricing, lots of detail”.

Skellett added that the arena “will open in 2028”. When asked how confident he was about this date, he said it is the “best guarantee I can give you”.

As well as YTL Arena, the Brabazon Bristol development will include 6,500 homes and three new schools. YTL has claimed that the development will deliver more than 30,000 jobs.

YTL Power acquired the disused Filton Airfield and associated Brabazon Hangars site back in 2016. The 380-acre site, located just north of Bristol, is the largest brownfield development project in the South West of England.

YTL Arena would be the fourth largest indoor arena in the UK after Co-op Live, AO Arena and The O2. The arena’s website states that an official opening date will only be announced once the site enabling and demolition phase of work has been completed.

Last March, preparation works commenced on the transformation of Brabazon Hangars. Once the main construction has started, a two-and-a-half-year build is expected.