Bristol’s arena has officially been named at a special ceremony at neighbouring Aerospace Bristol today (Thursday, February 19). YTL Live, the operating company behind the new live entertainment complex which is being built at the Brabazon Hangars, has announced UK insurer Aviva as the new partner of the upcoming 20,000 capacity indoor arena.
The landmark and long-term multi-million-pound sponsorship agreement secures naming rights for the venue, which will be known as Aviva Arena when it opens in late 2028. It will be one of the largest venues in the country and 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.
Chart‑topping British singer‑songwriter Tom Grennan lit up the naming‑rights launch at Aerospace Bristol on Thursday morning, performing a six‑song set beneath the iconic Concorde. The exclusive performance played out to a packed audience – including the Executive Chair of YTL Corporation, Sir Francis Yeoh, and West of England Mayor, Helen Godwin – all gathered beneath the wings of the iconic aircraft.
This latest news comes just under a month after BristolLive reported deconstruction and demolition work had completed, with construction now underway, and work has commenced to transform the Brabazon Hangars, birthplace of all the UK’s Concorde supersonic jets, into a live entertainment destination. The entire complex, which will be 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.
Construction has started to transform Brabazon Hangars into 20,000 capacity arena(Image: YTL Arena)
Located in Brabazon New Town, North Bristol, with a new train station on its doorstep due to open later this year, Aviva Arena is set to become ‘a global destination for live music, sport and entertainment’. The Aviva Arena is expected to host more than 120 major events every year, and those behind it hope it will become a ‘must play arena’ for artists.
The project will also create more than 2,000 jobs during construction, with up to a further 500 permanent roles once the arena is operational, delivering long-term economic and social benefits for the region.
Dame Amanda Blanc, group chief executive officer 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.”
An artist’s impression of what the Aviva Arena will look like inside(Image: YTL)
Aviva Arena becomes the latest addition to Aviva’s portfolio of venues, joining Aviva Stadium in Dublin and Aviva Studios in Manchester.
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.
“Tom Grennan is the perfect star to help launch the Aviva Arena. As an arena-filling artist in his own right, he sets the tone for the calibre of world-class performers who will take to this stage in the years to come.
“And just as importantly, the Arena will become a platform for local talent to grow, thrive, and shine. We are already exploring ways to support emerging artists who are building their audience and fanbases. 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.”
The choice of the insurer for the partnership is not without some controversy, however. Back in January 2025, BristolLive reported that Palestine Action occupied Bristol’s Aviva Centre in Stoke Gifford, as part of a protest against the ongoing military action in Gaza.
Protesters claimed Aviva “provides the mandatory employers [sic] liability insurance for UAV Engines in Staffordshire, a drone engine factory owned by Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems”.
One activist was in position on top of the overhang of the building, while Palestine Action said another member spray-painted the front glass of the building with messages including ‘Pal Action’ and ‘Elbit Out’. Elbit Systems is one of Israel’s largest military technology companies.
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