An opposition councillor has rubbished Marvin Rees’s claim that rock icons Queen would not have played a Bristol city centre arena because of a lack of lorry parking. The band, with frontman Adam Lambert, became the first act to perform at YTL Bristol Arena at the Brabazon Hangars this month, capping a secret five-day residency for full production rehearsals ahead of their new tour with a private gig to a small invited audience.
Labour mayor Mr Rees spoke of the significance of the event on Monday, May 23, which he said validated his decision in 2018 to scrap plans for what was then called Arena Island, near Temple Meads, and move the proposed venue to Filton on the edge of Bristol. He said the city centre site, now called Temple Island and earmarked for a conference centre, offices and 550 new homes instead of a major live music attraction, had room for a maximum of only “one or two” trucks, whereas Queen + Adam Lambert’s massive support crew brought their equipment to the new venue, which is still under construction, in 40 articulated lorries.
Lib Dem Cllr Tim Kent, a supporter of what would have been the city centre arena, has hit back saying this is not true, while Mr Rees has reiterated the assertion that the original location was too small for such a huge show. Tweeting a link to the Local Democracy Reporting Service story about the mayor’s claims along with two images of the original designs from Bristol City Council’s planning portal, Hengrove & Whitchurch Park ward Cllr Kent wrote: “How about some … erm facts…
