History
The stadium was built on an area of land called Buffalo Bill's Field that was previously occupied by allotments and was opened on 24 September 1921 by G B Britton, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, as a home for Bristol Rugby Club.
Situated on Filton Avenue in Horfield, Bristol, it has developed significantly over the years. A massive crowd turned out to watch the first ever game to be held there against Cardiff, but did so from wooden terraces and stands.
The Ground has remained a focal point for the wider Bristol community, and a minute's silence is held annually at the closest game to Remembrance Sunday, while on 11 November a service of remembrance is held at the Memorial Gates.
With the advent of leagues in the late 1980s, Bristol looked to develop the Ground, replacing the old Shed on the north side with the Centenary Stand to mark the club's 100th anniversary in 1988.
The West Stand, an original feature of the ground, was demolished in 1995 having been condemned, and replaced.
In 1996, Bristol Rovers moved in as tenants of Bristol Rugby Club, and soon took joint ownership through the Memorial Stadium Company.
The stadium is also used for the rugby varsity between the city's two universities, University of the West of England and University of Bristol.
The rugby club was relegated from the Premiership in 1998, causing severe financial difficulties, and they lost control of the Memorial Stadium Company to Bristol Rovers. The rugby club has since been tenants in their original home.
By 2005, the Memorial Stadium was hosting Bristol Rugby Club back in the Guinness Premiership, with Bristol Rovers competing in the Football League. A roof has been added to the Clubhouse Terrace and a temporary stand at the east of the ground has brought capacity up to 11,916 (11,750 for football due to terracing that cannot be used due to segregation of home and away fans).
Read more about this topic: Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
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