Bristol Rovers’ plans to redevelop the Memorial Stadium have stalled – with other options including a move being explored – club chairman Hussain AlSaeed has said.
The proposed work at the Mem, which Rovers have called home since 1996, included upgrades to stands to increase capacity from 12,500 to 16,500 and also change the ground from majority standing to seating.
AlSaeed, who took over as majority owner of the club in 2023 before acquiring full shares in November 2024, said a number of studies such as traffic and transport modelling and architecture designs all reported back with a “red flag”.
“We are still exploring and still consulting with experts… if those things [issues] can be avoided and achieved with this current situation,” he said in an internal club Q&A video., external
“However, we are also looking at other options. For me the most important thing is to get a good size stadium for this club, whether it’s the Memorial or anywhere else – that is the main goal.”
Rovers, relegated last season, are 20th in League Two after losing 15 of 24 games and sit four points above the bottom two – although they did end a 13-match winless league run with victory at relegation rivals Shrewsbury on New Year’s Day.
Club ‘deserves a better stadium’
Rovers’ various stadium plans over the years have come to no fruition.
The club were involved in a High Court battle over a deal with Sainsbury’s to buy the Mem in 2011, while plans to build a 21,000-seater stadium at the University of West of England were abandoned six years later.
A proposed move to a new ground at Bristol’s Fruit Market site close to the city centre was then mentioned as a possible new home for some time and AlSaeed previously told the BBC it was “on the table” when he took over.
However, that move was ruled out in October 2023, the aim reverting to improving their current home with AlSaeed saying in February 2025 he was “confident” in the plans.
The Kuwaiti owner said the work so far, costing £420,000 in fees for studies, surveys, architecture design and consultancy, had changed the picture.
As well as issues with traffic control and transport around the Mem, the limited space available behind the stands would make it “extremely difficult” to proceed and increase the capacity without cutting into the parking capacity available.
“I am really taking it seriously and I have spoken about that and our intention, we have always said, is that this club deserves a better infrastructure, a better stadium all the way,” AlSaeed said.
“What we are looking at now is if there is any other way to try to make it a better stadium than what we have, is it worth the money that we’re going to spend to make that improvement, would that be good enough for the club?
“[Those are] All of the questions we are faced with and we are really taking careful study and consultation.”
The proposals also include upgrading the training facilities known as ‘The Quarters’ which AlSaeed said Rovers were continuing to meet the council to discuss.
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