Bristol YTL Arena ‘will open in 2028’

Article posted by Coliseum, April 4^th, 2025

Image: YTL Arena Bristol (Facebook)

Bristol’s (UK) long-awaited arena “will open in 2028”, the Chief Executive of the company behind it (Colin Skellett of YTL UK) has said.

‘BBC’ stated that the 19,000-seater YTL Arena, initially announced in 2018, is planned to be the center of the Brabazon development in Filton which will also include 6,500 homes.

The YTL UK Group offers an unrivaled end-to-end proposition with in-house expertise spanning planning and development, investment, design, procurement, construction, and operational management.

Combining both global reach and an established United Kingdom supply chain network developed over more than 20 years the YTL UK Group is a genuine turnkey partner with a commitment to sustainability sitting at the heart of its approach to business.

The YTL Arena Bristol (UK) is a proposed 19,000-capacity indoor arena to be located at the former Filton Airfield’s Brabazon hangar.

A new urban quarter. A business address like no other and a place that changes everything. Brabazon is the first major mixed-use project in the United Kingdom for the YTL Developments. Inspired by an airliner that was an icon of engineering Brabazon is a thriving new neighborhood for Bristol and one of the most exciting new developments in the United Kingdom.

‘BBC’ further stated that the huge scheme has been much delayed with the developers – the Malaysian-owned YTL – initially saying it could be open by 2022.

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)-based the YTL Corporation Berhad (YTL) is a Malaysian-owned infrastructure conglomerate founded in 1955 with core businesses in utilities, construction, cement, property development, hotels, and technology operating internationally.

But Colin Skellett, the Chief Executive of YTL UK, has now said the project is “ready to go” after “lots of pricing, lots of detail”.

Asked how confident the firm was about this date he said, “It’s the best guarantee I can give you.”

The Brabazon arena has been promoted as a more affordable alternative to a previously Council-backed site next to the Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station.

That was first proposed in 2003 but the building work never started.

Since the project moved to the Filton site there have been delays and from the outside the giant existing aircraft hangers look unchanged.

The YTL say some internal preparatory work has been done but Skellet explained that that the COVID-19 pandemic had set progress back.

While construction is yet to begin on the arena work on a railway station to bring the concertgoers to the venue is underway.

The brand new station, North Filton, is set to open as an unstaffed station in late 2026 though this is set to be enlarged later when the arena nears completion.

Elsewhere, hundreds of people have already bought and moved into new homes as part of the development and there are plans for schools, student accommodation and sports facilities.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at www.coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.