The recently approved Sporting Quarter development set to be built by Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol could help attract events to the city it has “traditionally” lost out on, a boss at the ground has said.
Bristol City Council approved plans last week for a sports and convention centre, a 232-room hotel, 125 apartments, offices, shops, a gym, a club museum, and a multi-storey car park directly west of the existing home of Bristol City and rugby side Bristol Bears.
The proposed sports and convention centre will include a 3,600 seater arena, which is set to become the new home of the Bristol Flyers basketball club, while it could also be used for major business conferences and large cultural events.
Martin Griffiths, chairman of Ashton Gate Stadium, said that while the project would offer “a once in a lifetime opportunity” for sport in this city, it could also have an “enormous” positive impact on the local economy.
Mr Griffiths said: “To be able to ensure the future financial sustainability of the Flyers Basketball team by providing them with their own home at BS3, and be able to expand on the incredible work that our community foundations already deliver is fantastic.
“The Sporting Quarter will be a catalyst for expansion and regeneration in South West Bristol. It will drive local jobs, the local supply chain and by having a hotel attached to the Sports and Conference Centre means we will be able to attract events to the city which would traditionally lose out to cities like Birmingham and Cardiff.”
Liverpool architecture firm KKA - which previously designed the redevelopment of Ashton Gate Stadium and the Robins High Performance Centre training facilities in Failand - said “detailed work” would start “immediately” on the next stage of the Sporting Quarter project.
The first phase of development is set to include the sports and convention Centre alongside the hotel, with hopes to be on site in late Summer 2023.
Chris Long, director, KKA, said: “We are confident that the Sporting Quarter - like our other Bristol schemes - will not only generate a sporting legacy for the city, but a wellbeing and socio-economic heritage.
“Taken as a whole, they will deliver infrastructure and transport improvements, a swathe of employment opportunities, a new 'destination' area for the city and help stimulate the visitor economy.
“The new stadium and sports and convention centre will also plug a gap in Bristol's events and conferencing provision, bringing new cultural and corporate events to the city and enriching its arts scene.”
Alongside the Sporting Quarter development, planning permission was also granted last week for a nearby housing project on a green belt site in Ashton Vale, which could provide up to 510 homes.
According to BristolLive , billionaire Steve Lansdown, owner of Bristol Sport, is hoping to sell the ‘Longmoor Village’ site with planning permission to a housing developer to help pay for the sports and convention centre.
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