Jobs to go at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol due to coronavirus crisis

Bristol City in action at Ashton Gate with an audience of cardboard cut-outs due to coronavirus restrictions. Credit: PA

Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol has announced that it has begun a consultation over redundancies. The sports and entertainment venue has not been able to open since March because of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The global pandemic has seen the stadium closed to the general public since thebeginning of March and is only now beginning to make small steps towards re-opening.

Managing Director Mark Kelly said: “It is an extremely sad day for the stadium. We’veworked tremendously hard for the last six years to build the stadium into a successfulmatch day and non-match day destination.

“Before the coronavirus struck we were on track for another year of sustained andsignificant growth. Sadly, the global pandemic has hit the events industry extremely hard."

With such uncertainty over when mass gatherings will be able to return to full capacity we are left with no option but to protect the long-term viability of the business.

Mark Kelly, Managing Director, Ashton Gate Stadium
Ashton Gate has hosted major concerts in the past but it is not known when such mass events will return because of Covid-19. Credit: PA

Mr Kelly added: “By embarking on this process now we hope to be in the best possible position to scale-up once we are able to return to business as usual.

“These proposals have not been made lightly and are the next steps of a thorough reviewand consultation with our staff. We are in discussions with the potentially impactedcolleagues and offering them our full support during such a difficult time.”