Too many times have we gone into the long and messy history of Bristol’s arena. So we’ll save you the time of going over it again. There’s bound to be more twists in the tale… But the YTL Arena, currently under construction at the former Filton Airfield’s Brabazon hangar, finally has a name.
Bristol’s 20,000 capacity indoor arena has today (Thursday, February 16, 2026) announced a long-term multi-million-pound sponsorship deal with insurance company Aviva. Securing naming rights for the venue means it will now be known as Aviva Arena (inspired, I know).
Aviva Arena will be one of the largest venues in the country when it opens in late 2028. A first of its kind for the West of England, an estimated 1.4 million people are expected to attend live music, sports and entertainment at Aviva Arena each year—hosting more than 120 major events every year.
“And just as importantly, the Arena will become a platform for local talent to grow, thrive, and shine,” said CEO of YTL Live, Andrew Billingham. “Our aim is clear: to ensure that Aviva Arena contributes positively and sustainably to the entire live‑music landscape, from emerging talent to headline artists.”
Located in north Bristol, at the new Brabazon neighbourhood, with a new train station due to open on its doorstep later this year, work has already commenced to transform the birthplace of all the UK’s Concorde supersonic jets. The entire complex, called YTL Live, will house Aviva Arena in the central and largest of the three hangars.
YTL Live, which will also be made up of a conference and exhibition space, is expected to contribute an estimated £1 billion to the wider Bristol 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.
Once the arena opens, Aviva will offer its customers exclusive benefits, including a 48-hour ticket pre-sale window ahead of general release, priority venue access, ticket upgrades, in-venue discounts, and a programme of money-can’t-buy experiences. To learn more about Aviva Arena, head here.
