Bath Rugby has been located at The Rec since 1894. Given its location in the centre of Bath, next to the River Avon, it is an important amenity for the city.
Having submitted plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium in 2023, Bath Rugby took on feedback from the public, key stakeholders, and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) to revise plans, which were then approved in 2025.
About a quarter of The Rec is leased to Bath Rugby during the rugby union season and it has a capacity for 14,500 people. The Rec is also used for cricket, by Bath Hockey Club, Bath Croquet Club, Bath Drama Club, Bath Quidditch Club, and for tennis.
The new stadium design boasts significant improvements, including lowering the heights of the West and East Stands to elevate the matchday experience, whilst preserving the character of surrounding areas.
A redesign of the East and West Stand facades and re-engineering of the seating bowl will increase capacity to 18,000, with significantly enhanced accessibility.
Enhanced landscaping to the river will include a new Spring Gardens Walk, retention of mature trees, as well as further landscaping and biodiversity measures. A new riverside cafe, club shop and museum will also be available for non-matchday use.