YTL Arena Bristol Progress Update From CEO Andrew Billingham

Andrew Billingham, CEO of YTL Arena has released a progress update statement on the arena project. 

Image: YTL

Andrew Billingham, CEO of YTL Arena says "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."

"We will have the region’s largest column-less exhibition and convention halls with 6,000m2 of floor area, height clearance of 21 metres and banqueting capacity for 4,000 people, together with a flexible hub for entertainment, film, TV and music rehearsals."

"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. That is why we have been working with Bristol based interior designers Studio B."

Kyle Clarke, Founder of Studio B said “The highlight of our year was winning the YTL Arena work. 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.”

YTL Arena Bristol will be at the heart of a vibrant new community for Bristol, known as Brabazon.

In October 2022, YTL Developments received planning consent to build Brabazon Park, the largest new urban public park in the South West for over 50 years and the front door to YTL Arena.

Equivalent in size to Bristol's Castle Park, the new landmark public space will span 15 acres, including a 2.5 acre lake surrounded by a floating boardwalk. There will be mature trees, lakeside coffee spots and outdoor exercise areas for adults, and an adventure playground for kids. Construction is planned to commence in 2023, with the park due to open in sections from 2024 onwards.