UWE opens new Education Innovation Centre - University of the ...

NEWS
The University has welcomed the
proposal for a new football stadium
at the Frenchay Campus through a
groundbreaking agreement with Bristol
Rovers Football Club (BRFC) subject to
planning permission.
Proposals were presented at a press
conference hosted at Bristol Rovers
Football Club where Nick Higgs,
Chairman BRFC and Professor Steve
West, UWE Vice-Chancellor, explained
the exciting new plans to the local
media who turned up in force on
Thursday 9 June. The proposals were
widely covered and included a very
positive five page feature in the Bristol
Evening Post, interviews on local radio
and news items on BBC Points West and
ITV West.
UWE has agreed to lease an area of
land to BRFC that will create significant
benefits for students, staff and the
community.
The agreement represents a significant
investment of approximately £60 million
in first class facilities that bring added
value to the city and the region. BRFC
UWE welcomes stadium initiative
will be funding the build of the stadium.
The stadium will be known as the ‘UWE
Stadium’.
The agreement allows for a 20,000
seat stadium incorporating facilities for
match days, a retail unit, a club shop,
crèche, a sports bar/club, a banqueting
suite and space for UWE and the
community to hire. BRFC will also
construct a car park of over 1,000 spaces
for use by UWE staff and students, which
will replace car park 20 which only has
temporary planning permission. The car
park will also be available for supporters
on Match Days.
The stadium design will include a club
gym for student and community use,
an all weather jogging track, rooms
for student club activities and teaching
space.
UWE’s rugby and soccer varsity matches
will be able to use the stadium and
there will be the opportunity for
students to assist professional coaches.
Students will also be able to use the
Supporters Club Bar and adjacent
Banqueting Suite for functions and
4
events, as well as being able to buy
discounted match tickets.
Students will be offered the chance to
take up casual employment vacancies for
match days, as well as part-time jobs in
catering and for bar staff. Internships
will be offered annually for students
into the operation of the Club.
In addition access will be provided to the
Media Suite for student courses. Those
on relevant degrees will be able to
monitor the construction of the stadium
as a project as part of their studies
and work with the club on marketing,
promotion and event management.
There are also opportunities for the
university to engage in social research
and engage with a diverse community of
football and rugby supporters.
The stadium will include a small
convenience store and BRFC will work
with UWE to support public transport
access to and from the site. BRFC will
work to support UWE charities and
alumni in fundraising campaigns. Staff
and the local community will be offered
match day discounted tickets.