A new 20,000-capacity indoor music venue, set to be known as Aviva Arena, is slated to open in north Bristol in late 2028. The facility aims to become a major hub for live entertainment in the west of England, with aspirations to host international touring artists and prominent events such as the Brit Awards.

Situated in Brabazon, on the site of the former Filton Airfield which was once home to Concorde, the arena will occupy the central and largest of the three historic Brabazon Hangars. This broader development, named YTL Live, will also incorporate dedicated conference and exhibition spaces. The project is designed to host more than 120 major events annually.

The development, led by Malaysian-based infrastructure developer YTL Developments, is projected to inject an estimated £1 billion into the wider Bristol economy over its initial decade of operation. During the construction phase, more than 2,000 jobs are anticipated, followed by up to 500 permanent roles once the venue is fully operational.

YTL, a significant Malaysian investor in the UK and owner of Wessex Water, acquired the site approximately ten years ago. Andrew Billingham, Chief Executive of Aviva Arena, highlighted the company's commitment to building a comprehensive "live, work, and play" town model in the UK. He noted the rapid growth in live music following the pandemic, expressing a desire for the venue to be a prominent fixture on the global touring circuit. Billingham also underscored that the southwest of England has been the last major region without such an arena, reinforcing Bristol's strong creative economy.

The venue is designed with 20 state-of-the-art dressing rooms, extensive production facilities, and Europe’s largest services yard, capable of simultaneously accommodating up to 60 touring lorries. The arena’s naming-rights launch took place in February, featuring a performance by British singer-songwriter Tom Grennan at Aerospace Bristol, beneath a Concorde aircraft. A new railway station, also named Bristol Brabazon, is scheduled to open in the autumn, enhancing connectivity for the complex.