17/01/2014 02:24 PM
Bristol may finally be getting an indoor entertainment arena after funding for a new facility was approved by the city's mayor.
The proposal for a new arena has been ongoing since 2003 and has faced a number of setbacks along the way. It was feared that the project would never get off the ground but the mayor of Bristol has offered some hope by granting a three-year financial plan for Bristol City Council to fund the building of the indoor arena. It is expected to cost around £91 million to construct and aims to be open by 2017.
George Ferguson, mayor of the city, reinforced his message delivered before his election in November 2012 that the construction of an arena was one of his "top priorities". He also supported starting the process of selecting an arena operator and open negotiations over the terms of the lease. These recommendations will be put before the full council on February 18th.
The three year process will mean the council will have to adjust its budget to accommodate construction costs of £1 million in the first year and then £25 million the following and ending with a £65 million payment in 2016/17. Mr Ferguson maintained that despite these overheads the overall net costs to the council would be in the "very low millions".
By building a new 12,000-seater arena adjacent to Bristol Temple Meads railway station means the city can finally attract some of the biggest names in the entertainment world to the city. Bristol remains one of the few major cities with the UK that is without an arena to hold concerts, sporting events and exhibitions.
While Bristol has stalled creating the Bristol Arena as well new stadiums for both Bristol Rovers and Bristol City football clubs, just across the Bristol Channel, Cardiff has been prospering. Since 1999, the Welsh capital has opened the Millennium Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff City Stadium and Swalec Stadium. This has allowed it to host huge concerts, FA Cup finals and the Ashes.
Contact us for a security fencing quote.
The proposal for a new arena has been ongoing since 2003 and has faced a number of setbacks along the way. It was feared that the project would never get off the ground but the mayor of Bristol has offered some hope by granting a three-year financial plan for Bristol City Council to fund the building of the indoor arena. It is expected to cost around £91 million to construct and aims to be open by 2017.
George Ferguson, mayor of the city, reinforced his message delivered before his election in November 2012 that the construction of an arena was one of his "top priorities". He also supported starting the process of selecting an arena operator and open negotiations over the terms of the lease. These recommendations will be put before the full council on February 18th.
The three year process will mean the council will have to adjust its budget to accommodate construction costs of £1 million in the first year and then £25 million the following and ending with a £65 million payment in 2016/17. Mr Ferguson maintained that despite these overheads the overall net costs to the council would be in the "very low millions".
By building a new 12,000-seater arena adjacent to Bristol Temple Meads railway station means the city can finally attract some of the biggest names in the entertainment world to the city. Bristol remains one of the few major cities with the UK that is without an arena to hold concerts, sporting events and exhibitions.
While Bristol has stalled creating the Bristol Arena as well new stadiums for both Bristol Rovers and Bristol City football clubs, just across the Bristol Channel, Cardiff has been prospering. Since 1999, the Welsh capital has opened the Millennium Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff City Stadium and Swalec Stadium. This has allowed it to host huge concerts, FA Cup finals and the Ashes.
Contact us for a security fencing quote.
Top