Gloucestershire to Drop County Name and Play as Bristol in T20 Blast

Gloucestershire will compete in the T20 Blast under the name Bristol, a rebrand aimed at attracting fresh audiences and tackling falling revenue in the crowded cricket market.

The club announced that the Bristol brand will be used from next season in the competition, with the full change scheduled to take effect from the 2027 season.

According to the club, the name change is purely a marketing decision and will not affect the venue – home matches will still be played at the historic ground in Cheltenham.

Board members say the city‑focused identity is intended to broaden the fan base and open new sponsorship opportunities.

One tongue‑in‑cheek hope is that the new Bristol label might finally draw more coffee‑shop crowds than county‑council meetings.