The club played at five different venues before purchasing Eastville Stadium in 1897, and then in 1932, the directors of the club granted a 21-year lease to the Bristol Greyhound Racing Association to operate race meetings twice a week at the stadium.
By March 1940, the club found themselves in a precarious financial position and Eastville was sold to the greyhound company for £12,000, even though its valuation was nearer £20,000. It was a decision that, with the benefit of hindsight, cost the club dearly.
In 1980, the South Stand at the ground was destroyed by fire and six years later, faced with mounting debts and an increase in the rental for Eastville, Rovers moved to Bath to share Twerton Park with Bath City. During ten years in exile, the club worked desperately hard to find a new site for a ground back in Bristol, without success.
A move back to their home city was achieved in August 1996, as the club entered into another ground sharing agreement, with Bristol Rugby Club, at the Memorial Ground.
In May 1998, the Memorial Stadium Company purchased the ground and Rovers, with a 50 per cent stake in the company, effectively became joint owners.
Just two months later, the rugby club found themselves in financial difficulty and was forced to call in the receivers. Under the terms of the original sale, if either club were unable to meet their share of the running costs, then the other party could buy them out for £10,000.
This clause was included to ensure the stadium was secure for the remaining club to continue its business. For the first time since 1940, therefore, Rovers have a home they can call their own.
