• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Thursday February 19 2026

Bristol Arena name announced after YTL strikes deal with Aviva

Bristol’s long-awaited 20,000 capacity arena will be called Aviva Arena, after developer YTL struck a deal with the insurance giant.

The long-term partnership is said to be worth millions of pounds, although the exact value has not been revealed.

The arena is being built at Brabazon, on the old Filton Airfield, and is expected to open in 2028 – ten years after the plans were first announced.

When it opens, the venue will be one of the largest in the UK.

An estimated 1.4 million people are expected to attend live music, sports and entertainment at Aviva Arena each year and the complex is expected to contribute £1 billion to the local economy over the first decade of operation.

The project will create more than 2,000 jobs during construction, with up to a further 500 permanent roles once the arena is operational.

The Aviva Arena is expected to host more than 120 major events every year, establishing the venue as a leading international ‘must play arena’ for artists.

Work has already commenced to transform the iconic Brabazon Hangars at the former Filton Airfield, birthplace of all the UK’s Concorde supersonic jets, into a live entertainment destination.

The entire complex, called YTL Live, will house Aviva Arena in the central and largest of the three Brabazon Hangars, as well as a conference and exhibition space, and is expected to contribute an estimated £1 billion to the wider Bristol economy over the first decade of operation.

CEO of YTL Live, Andrew Billingham, said: “Aviva Arena will be one of the most exciting and sustainable live entertainment venues anywhere in the world, and we are incredibly proud to welcome Aviva as our naming partner.

“This long-term partnership brings together two organisations with shared values around innovation, sustainability and community impact. Aviva Arena will put Bristol firmly on the global touring map, delivering unforgettable experiences for fans and artists alike while creating lasting benefits for the city and the wider region.”

Dame Amanda Blanc, group CEO of Aviva, said: “Bristol is an important city for Aviva, and we are proud to back this new world-class arena which will have such a positive community impact.

“Aviva Arena will further strengthen Bristol’s position as one of Europe’s great creative cities and become a landmark destination for the South West of England.

“Together with the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and Aviva Studios in Manchester, Aviva now supports three iconic venues which host the very best in sport, music and the arts, delivering lasting economic and social value.”