Reaching for the stars Arena boss says he can't wait for that first gig

Work is undoubtedly progressing at Bristol's long-promised arena but the early promises were that it would be ready by now. Tristan Cork meets the man whose job it is to make a venue fit for the world's biggest names

- Tristan Cork

HERE are neon lights on the wall of the reception of the office of the YTL Arena. In capital letters, the message boldly states 'Let's make history together.'

On another wall, the front pages of five different editions of the Post are proudly framed and on display, charting some of more than seven years' worth of headlines.

The first hailed the 'Massive Success' of Massive Attack's two nights of gigs inside the vast Brabazon Hangar, which saw 28,000 people in total watch Bristol's famous musical export. That front page was from March 2019 more than six years and what feels like a lifetime ago now and told how a fleet of what felt like every available bus in the West of England took people from The Centre up to Filton Airfield for the two gigs.

The Massive Attack gig utilised less than half this vast space, and those who went remember a dark space, with huge curtains creating an auditorium. That's all gone now, as have most of the buildings around the old aircraft factory, but those gig-goers of 2019 were promised there would be an arena by now.

Six and a half years on, and as YTL Arena chief executive Andrew Billingham stood in the middle of the huge Brabazon Hangar there is still no arena. Mention the arena to most Bristolians and they are reluctant to believe it will ever happen. There is still a residual frustration from former Mayor Marvin Rees' decision to halt the start of work on a former Mayor George Ferguson's plan for a 10,000-capacity arena next to Temple Meads in preference to YTL's promise.

The further the world turns from that decision and there's no arena at Filton, the more important that moment seems.