# Gloucestershire to play T20 Blast as 'Bristol' from 2027 after a 21% fall in Blast revenue

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/gloucestershire-to-play-t20-blast-as-bristol-from-2027-after-a-21percent-fall-in)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 5 Nov 2026
Updated: 5 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 5 Nov 2026

> The county that has played as Gloucestershire since 1870 will field a new Bristol T20 side, men and women, from next season. Members are angry; the new name, kit and logo come with the fixtures on 24 November.

**Gloucestershire will stop playing the T20 Blast under the county's name and compete as Bristol from 2027**, the club told members this week, [BBC Sport reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/ckd7q9l0n7dyo) on Thursday 5 November 2026. The change covers both the men's and women's T20 teams; the club stays Gloucestershire in the County Championship and one-day cricket.

## Why the change

- **Blast revenue fell 21%** in 2026 compared with 2025, the BBC said.
- The Blast drives about **20% of the club's ticket revenue**, and it is the one competition where crowds are shrinking even as overall attendance rises.
- Chief executive Neil Priscott told members the plan is to create "a distinct Bristol-based T20 team to reach a new audience" while chasing a top-eight finish in the Championship.

The club, which has played as Gloucestershire since 1870, said players, members and the ECB had been consulted for several months, and that Gloucestershire "will always remain our overarching identity".

## Members unhappy

Life member Tim Lezzard, who has followed the club for 40 years, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he was "horrified" and called the move "a massive misstep", saying some fans would stop coming. A second members' meeting was due in Cheltenham on Thursday evening.

## What happens next

**The 2027 Blast fixtures come out on 24 November**, and the Bristol team's name, kit and logo are expected the same day. Gloucestershire won the Blast for the only time in 2024, beating Somerset at Edgbaston.

## Why it matters to fans in Pakistan

County T20 is where many Pakistan players earn their English contracts, and the Blast is followed here for them. The move mirrors the city-based model of the Hundred and of franchise leagues such as the PSL, where teams carry a city's name. Follow Pakistan's own season on our [PSL 2026 schedule and results page](/news/cricket/psl-2026-schedule-results-points-table).

## Frequently asked questions

**Will Gloucestershire change its name?**

Only in the T20 Blast: from 2027 its men's and women's T20 teams will play as Bristol. The club stays Gloucestershire in other competitions.

**When will the Bristol T20 name and kit be revealed?**

With the 2027 Blast fixtures on 24 November 2026.

## Sources

- Gloucestershire to rebrand to Bristol in T20 Blast from 2027 (5 Nov 2026) (BBC Sport): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/ckd7q9l0n7dyo
- Gloucestershire to play as 'Bristol' in T20 Blast from next season (ESPNcricinfo): https://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1561571.html

How to cite: "Gloucestershire to play T20 Blast as 'Bristol' from 2027 after a 21% fall in Blast revenue", Searchable, 5 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/gloucestershire-to-play-t20-blast-as-bristol-from-2027-after-a-21percent-fall-in