Other Sport / Ashton Gate
Ambitious expansion plans revealed for Ashton Gate Stadium
Just a few short years ago, Ashton Gate Stadium lagged way behind the ambitions of its owners. That changed with a £45m transformation of the stadium now used by Bristol City and Bristol Bears, and now paves the way for an even more ambitious redevelopment that will extend the stadium, to bring what Bristol Sport bosses are calling “a new sports and entertainment quarter for the city”.
A 4,000-capacity venue built behind the Lansdown Stand will become the permanent home of the Bristol Flyers basketball team, and also act as a convention centre and space for community sports.
The £100m plans also include two hotels, a multi-storey car park, offices, housing, and “an integrated transport hub” aimed at significantly improving the transport flow around the area, connecting the Metrobus, railway line, cycle routes and crossings over Winterstoke Road.
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Over the last few years, land has been purchased next to the stadium on which will be built the Ashton Gate Sport & Convention Centre, described as the “focal point” of the proposal.
Bristol Flyers currently play their home games at the SGS College Arena in Filton, where they sold out every game of last season’s British Basketball League (BBL).
As well as a new home for Bristol Flyers, the new venue will also be able to host both community and professional sports events including badminton, boxing and netball.
Ashton Gate’s proposed redevelopment will cost £100m
On land at Ashton Vale previously earmarked for a brand new stadium until those plans were shelved in order to transform Ashton Gate, a new housing development containing some 500 homes will be called Cumberland Village.
“It is right that any proposed development must take account of the current housing crisis facing our city and homes have been factored into the plans,” said Ashton Gate Stadium chairman Martin Griffiths.
Talking about the proposed £100m scheme, Griffiths added: “It’s a fairly complicated plan, but no greater challenge than rebuilding a stadium while playing rugby and football in it.”
Bristol Flyers head coach Andreas Kapoulas said: “This is a tremendous moment for Flyers basketball and one which will secure our long-term future.
“We’re entering our fifth season in the BBL and we have built our reputation both on and off the court.
“Last season’s sell-out crowds at SGS College have shown us that there is a real appetite for basketball in Bristol and it is wonderful that we can now look forward to playing in a brand new venue in the next few years, which will support our long-term ambitions for domestic and European success.”
The new Ashton Gate Sports & Convention Centre will be connected to the current stadium by paths and a bridge across Colliter’s Brook
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