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KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 23): YTL Live, YTL Corporation Bhd's (KL:YTL) operating company for a new live entertainment complex in Bristol, has announced that Aviva, a diversified UK insurer, has been named the partner of Bristol’s 20,000-capacity indoor arena under a long-term sponsorship agreement.
In a joint statement, YTL and Aviva said the long-term multimillion-pound agreement secures naming rights for the venue, which will be known as Aviva Arena when it opens in late 2028, positioning it among the largest venues in the country and a first of its kind for the West of England.
They said an estimated 1.4 million people are expected to attend live music, sports and entertainment at Aviva Arena each year.
“Work has commenced to transform the iconic Brabazon Hangars, the birthplace of all the UK’s Concorde supersonic jets, into a live entertainment destination.
“The entire complex, 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 (RM5.26 billion) to the wider Bristol economy over the first decade of operation,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the project will 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.
The Aviva Arena is expected to host more than 120 major events every year, establishing the venue as a leading international "must-play arena" for artists, they said.
YTL Corporation executive chairman Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said the partnership with Aviva reflects shared corporate values and a common focus on community, inclusion and sustainability.
Yeoh noted that while YTL continues to expand into digital infrastructure businesses, including 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI) data centres through its partnership with Nvidia and the launch of a fully AI-empowered digital bank, the group remains a long-term steward of its existing infrastructure portfolio.
“Our purchase of the disused Filton airfield in 2015 was a major move into something we have done many times in Asia—regenerating disused sites with care and imagination to create a new environment and a prosperous community,” he said at the naming-rights launch.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously launched YTL’s revised master plan to develop Brabazon New Town, alongside the group’s commitment to investing about £4 billion in the UK over five years, reinforcing its status as the country’s largest Malaysian investor.
“Demolition work has finished and construction by our own company, YTL Construction UK, is beginning. We are hoping for a completion date in late 2028,” he said.
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