The Bristol Aztecs will have a new home for their upcoming 2024 season.
Shaftesbury Park, home of Dings Crusaders, and Bristol Bears Women, will host the Premiership South team’s home games, taking over from SGS College.
Just two years after the construction of a purpose-built field, one of the country’s first, at the sports college, they now break barriers once more, by moving to a facility that can host 2000 spectators.
Aztecs’ offensive coordinator James Wilford believes the move is the next step, as they push for their first-ever Britbowl.
The venue features a 250 seater stand, with a total capacity of 2000. There's a bar and multiple function rooms that will allow the club to improve our gameday experience. pic.twitter.com/aUWScHPX77
— SGS Bristol Aztecs (@BristolAztecs) February 10, 2024
“We’re really blessed with the facilities that we have SGS, not many teams can boast that they play and practice on a 100-yard fully marked-out field. It is probably the best field, if not one of the best fields in the UK.
“But something that we wanted to do from a spectator experience and a commercial aspect was to get into a stadium, get gate receipts, host our sponsors, and allow spectators to get a drink, sit down, and watch the game.
“The facilities that we have at SGS are great, but Shaftesbury Park gives us a bit more of a commercial viability.”
Wilford is hoping that the move attracts more spectators to Aztecs games this season, with Shaftesbury Park allowing for more flexible kick-off times.
“We’ve spoken to a number of teams, and we’re hoping to have a Saturday night fixture”: he told Park Life Sport.
“There are quite a few teams in the local area that are also playing games on a Sunday, so quite a lot of people that are interested in the sport are either playing, coaching, or watching another team.
“So, if we can host the game on a Saturday night, hopefully we can attract those people to the game.”
Pete Jones’ team have reached the Britbowl semi-final the past two seasons, but have never been crowned winners, something Wilford believes could soon change.
“Our only aim this season is to win the Britbowl”: he revealed.
“And that starts in the regular season, winning our regular season games, being the number one seed and hopefully having the opportunity to then host a playoff game.”
The Aztecs start their season away to the Cambridgeshire Cats, before waiting until Week 3 to play their inaugural game at Shaftesbury Park, hosting the Solent Thrashers on May 19.
Stay up to date with the latest news from Gloucestershire with our LIVE blog.
