YTL Arena announces design team 

YTL Arena is delighted to announce its design team. 

A rigorous selection process has taken several months, with Grimshaw, in partnership with Manica Architecture, emerging as the successful team to deliver an arena for Bristol by repurposing the Brabazon hangars at the former Filton airfield.

The team driving forward plans to create a new arena and put Bristol on the world stage have also appointed landscape architects Grant Associates and planning consultants Avison Young to help support them through the planning process, as well as structural and technical engineers and specialist consultants. 

YTL Arena Bristol Managing Director, Andrew Billingham, said: ‘We are very excited to announce our design team. This represents a very positive step forward for us. We are now working up our firm proposals to repurpose the Brabazon hangars to create a visionary arena that will put Bristol on the world stage.” 

Internationally renowned Grimshaw architects bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise having worked on the award winning Eden Project, Thermae Bath Spa in Bath, Wimbledon, and is currently working on The Engine Shed 2 in Bristol.  

With offices in Bristol, as well as in cities all around the world, they are well placed to design a visionary arena that will reflect and celebrate the city’s heritage and character.

They will be working in partnership with Manica Architecture who are industry leaders in next-generation arenas and stadia, having recently designed the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the NBA Golden State Warriors, and the Las Vegas NFL Stadium, the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders.   

YTL Arena will not be working in isolation: partnerships with other businesses are an essential part of our business strategy – bringing the individual, urban character of the city into the venue. The arena will also form part of a wider transformation of the former Filton airfield. Called Brabazon, the airfield will become a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol neighbourhood with more than 2,600 homes, creative workplaces and a vibrant town centre set amongst landscaped public squares and parkland.  

The arena project team aims to submit a full planning application in the coming months.  

Photo and interview opportunity: 

If you would like to interview Andrew Billingham, Managing Director of YTL Arena Bristol and Keith Brewis Managing Partner from Grimshaw Architects, film or take photography of the hangars, or for any further information,  please contact Charlotte Hanna: 07990 089910, email Charlotte.hanna@ytluk.co.uk.