Gloucestershire Cricket will stop using the county name for its T20 teams from 2027. The men’s and women’s sides will play in the T20 Blast as Bristol, with a new identity expected to be unveiled soon. The club will keep the Gloucestershire name for its other competitions.
Why the club is making the change
The club says the switch is part of a wider plan to reach new audiences and bring more money into the sport. The Blast brings in around 20% of the club’s ticketing revenue, and income from the competition fell 21% in 2026 compared with 2025. Overall attendances are rising, however.
Chief executive Neil Priscott told members the club wants to invest in Gloucestershire’s future while creating a distinct Bristol-based T20 team. The club won the Blast for the only time in 2024, beating Somerset in the final at Edgbaston.
What stays the same
Gloucestershire remains the club’s overarching name. The men’s and women’s teams will continue to play as Gloucestershire in the County Championship and the One Day Cup. The club’s home is the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, formerly the County Ground, which it has used since 1889.
Reaction from supporters
Not everyone is happy. Tim Lezard, a life member who has followed the club for 40 years, called the decision a massive misstep. He said nobody had been asking for a name change and that fans in the north of the county could feel cut off from a club based in Bristol. He added that some people had told him they would not bother going to watch if the name changes.
Warwickshire played as the Birmingham Bears in the Blast from 2014 and went back to their county name before the 2026 season. Their chief executive, Stuart Cain, said the club now wanted to represent the county.
What happens next
- The 2027 Blast fixtures are released on 24 November.
- The new name, kit and logo are expected to be released at the same time.
- The County Championship and One Day Cup will still be played as Gloucestershire.
