News / Bristol
Bristol for sale
Queen Square could become Dreams Square as cash-strapped Bristol City Council sell naming rights to council-owned property to the highest bidders.
Well-known businesses are already being approached to stamp their brand on familiar corners of the city.
Smaller parks could be available to name for as little as £10,000, with a headline sponsor of the Downs expected to cost considerably more.
Under radical new proposals, dozens of digital advertising billboards could also be appearing on council-owned land from as early as July, in time for the Harbour Festival.
Even the plinth underneath the historic statue of William III in Queen Square could be sold for wrap-around advertising space, with particularly profitable sites those which can be seen by pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists.
An artist’s impression of what the digital advertising on Queen Square could look like – photo courtesy of Bristol City Council
The city council, which is being forced to make more than £100m of cuts over the next five years, owns some of Bristol’s most historic buildings and parks.
And behind closed doors, Bristol24/7 understands that City Hall bosses have deemed that nothing will be too sensitive to be renamed if the price is right.
As well as Dreams Square sponsored by the bed and mattress shop, other early contenders for a name change include College Green & Blacks and the Floating Haribo.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has already formed a task force (his 104th since taking office last year) and a public consultation on the proposals is due to begin early next week.
Read more: City council passes more than £100m of cuts
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