Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
| The Mem | |
DriBuild Stand at the Memorial Stadium
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| Former names | Memorial Ground |
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| Location | Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0AQ |
| Coordinates | 51°29′10″N 2°34′59″W / 51.48622°N 2.583134°W |
| Owner | The Memorial Stadium Company |
| Capacity | 12,300 |
| Record attendance | 12,011 (Bristol Rovers vs West Bromwich Albion, 9 March 2008) |
| Field size | 101 x 68 metres |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 24 September 1921 |
| Tenants | |
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Bristol Rovers 1996– Bristol Rugby 1921–2014 |
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The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of the Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of local rugby union players of the city killed during the First World War. It is currently the home stadium of Bristol Rovers. From its foundation in 1921 until moving to Ashton Gate in 2014 the Memorial Ground was the home to Bristol Rugby.
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. In 2013, the stadium hosted the Rugby League World Cup Group D match between the Cook Islands and the USA attracting a crowd of 7,247. Gloucester Rugby played Bath in September and Exeter in October 2015 in pre-season friendlies whilst their home ground, Kingsholm Stadium, was being used for the Rugby World Cup being held in England.
The site was created on an area of land called Buffalo Bill's Field, after Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show was held there between 28 September and 3 October 1891. Two years later in September 1893 Clifton RFC played on the site for the first time.
During the First World War the site was converted into allotments but after the war Buffalo Bill's Field was bought by Sir Francis Nicholas Cowlin (then the Sheriff of Bristol) and given to Bristol Rugby Club.
In 1921 it became the Memorial Ground, home of Bristol Rugby Club, and was opened on 24 September that year by G. B. Britton, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, as a home for Bristol Rugby Club.
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