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

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 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.