Clear and irrefutable evidence was presented that all city centre arenas, including those by train stations attracted 70 per cent of travellers arriving by car, always in the rush hour and always adding to congested city centres, always in the worst air quality areas. The arena was too small to make it on the big circuit. To compete, arenas need to have at least 15,000 seats. The Temple Island operator’s business plan came with a vision to major on shows for audiences of around 4,000; putting Bristol in the third division for events. Five designs were shortlisted in the competition for a 12,000-capacity Bristol Arena on Arena Island – image: IDOM