The boss of Ashton Gate Stadium said his staff 'will be ready' to accommodate what is thought to be Britain's first mass public vaccination programme, as soon as the NHS and army are prepared.
Mark Kelly, the stadium's chief executive, said he also hoped the vaccination programme would help the city of Bristol, which will be in the most severe Tier 3 restrictions when the national lockdown ends next week, recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
A report by Healthier Together Bristol to the NHS in Bristol revealed that the stadium would be used for a mass Covid-19 vaccination programme as soon as the drug is given the green light by health authorities.
Health chiefs in Bristol said things were 'moving quickly', and Bristol Live understands the army are set to arrive at Ashton Gate Stadium in BS3 early next week to start setting up the logistics of the South Stand concourse of the stadium, ready for the programme.
If approved next week, the first jabs are scheduled to be administered by the following Monday at the earliest - December 7, with NHS and care staff and the over-50s being given appointments in their thousands across the whole region.
Since the start of the pandemic, Ashton Gate has hosted a mobile covid-19 testing facility for University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust staff, and given over the entire Lansdown Stand concourse to FareShare South West to run a food programme for vulnerable people across Bristol.
With Bristol initially in Tier 3, there is no prospect of an immediate return to fans being allowed back in to watch Bristol City and Bristol Bears rugby team, even in small numbers.
But that could change before Christmas if case numbers in the city continue to fall. Even if the use of the Lansdown Stand and the South Stand prevents fans accessing those parts of the stadium, there's still the Atyeo Stand and the Dolman Stand that currently sit empty and ready for fans.
Mr Kelly said even with the army and the NHS taking over the South Stand, with the vaccination programme facility operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week, it shouldn't mean fans can't still attend games if Bristol is put into a lower tier.
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"Still no approved vaccine," said Mr Kelly. "But when it’s available, the stadium will be ready to facilitate whatever is required to support the NHS, Bristol and the community.
"This will have no impact on the return of fans and should if anything help the city recover," he added.
