Ashton Gate Redevelopment
credit JMPUK
Bristol Sport Group’s vision is to inspire sport in Bristol and beyond. As part of this promise Bristol Sport is managing the delivery of a modern, multi-use stadium to house elite football and rugby union in the city. Once the £45m rebuild is complete, Ashton Gate Stadium will also become the largest conference and events facility in the South West.
Part of a group of sports companies owned by Stephen Lansdown, Bristol Sport promotes access to professional sport as well as participation in sport across all age and capability ranges.
Bristol Sport oversees the business, commercial and operational interests of its affiliated clubs which include Bristol City Football Club, Bristol Rugby Club, Bristol Flyers Basketball, Bristol City Women’s Football, Bristol Ladies Rugby, Bristol Jets Badminton and Bristol Sport Racing. Bristol Sport is managing the Ashton Gate stadium rebuild.
The £45million redevelopment began onsite in 2014 and consisted of rebuilding three of the four stands that surround the stadium and converting them into a linked horseshoe-shaped concourse. The main contractor – McLaughlin & Harvey – worked in collaboration with architects KKA to ensure a smooth operation. The completed stadium opens in August 2016.
Following the rebuild the new remodelled Dolman Stand features a capacity of 6,484. During 2015 the stand was completely overhauled and remodelled. The lower tier was removed and extended along with the roof being extended. The interior of the stand was converted into a concourse with new turnstiles, toilets, kiosks and linked into the new South Stand.
With a capacity of 6,143, South Stand (formerly known as the Wedlock Stand) was demolished and replaced with this single tier, including a double-height glass fronted sports bar, restaurant seating 250 people, museum, Bristol Sport store, exhibition space, club offices and eight classrooms.
The new West Stand boasts a huge capacity at 10,832, doubling the capacity of the previous structure which has been demolished. It includes a 1000-seater restaurant, new exhibition space in main concourse, 18 hospitality boxes, new changing rooms and player facilities and hi-tech media centre.
The Atyeo Stand, holding up to 4,240, underwent a renovation and remodelling of its existing structure.
Main materials that have been used in the construction include steel, pre-cast concrete, poured concrete, internal blockwork and glass. The exterior finish of the building features cladding and curtain walling.
credit JMPUK
Martin Griffiths, Chairman at Bristol Sport, told Premier Construction:
“Once complete, the stadium will provide six kitchens capable of serving 5,000 covers daily. The largest restaurant of the six will be 208m² and serve up to 1000 people in one sitting.
“It’s a very ambitious and complicated project working to extremely tight timescales. Developing in a live stadium which hosts two teams has been a challenge, but one we feel we have navigated very well.
“I have lived in Bristol for over 25 years and this was a unique opportunity for me to play a part in helping the city put past disappointments behind it where ambitious building projects have failed to materialise. It has been as tough a challenge as I have faced in business, but I have been delighted to be involved with it! I have had the privilege of working with a great team who have made it happen – involving long hours and hard work. It will be great to see it finished and to see Bristol have a modern, fit-for-purpose stadium where major sporting events and other events can be held.”
