Birmingham City’s chairman has said he wants to see the wider benefits of the Sports Quarter project realised “as quickly as possible” as the new stadium design was unveiled.
Blues’ enormous project is set to completely transform part of the city with a “world-class” training centre, women’s stadium, arena and mixed-used development planned alongside the stadium.
The club announced the purchase of a vacant site in east Birmingham, formerly known as Birmingham Wheels, from Birmingham City Council last year and have since shared its vision to create a “global destination”.
In a milestone moment for the club and city, Knighthead revealed the designs for Birmingham City’s new stadium at an event in Digbeth Loc Film Studios yesterday.
Located in Bordesley Green, those behind the project say the 62,000-capacity stadium will become a “major new city landmark that reflects the region’s industrial heritage while embracing cutting-edge engineering”.
There is huge optimism the venue, which will sit at the heart of the Sports Quarter, will help forever change the area into a sporting and cultural destination.
Asked when the wider benefits of the project could be realised, such as the arena and housing, chairman Tom Wagner said: “As quickly as possible. A lot of those benefits are in the process of being put together today.”
He went on to tell the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it was “important to get the stadium launched and brought to the world” so momentum could be built around other elements of the Sports Quarter.
“Many [parts of the project] are very far along,” he continued. “We’re being thoughtful about how we sequence the construction.”
He added however that “more than just the stadium” will have been built in five years’ time if he had his way.
Wagner last month revealed the team responsible for creating the club’s new stadium, with the collaboration involving award-winning British designers Heatherwick Studio.
They will partner with Kansas-based architectural powerhouse MANICA and be supported by Steven Knight, the writer behind iconic series Peaky Blinders and a lifelong Blues fan.
The proposals have been hailed by local politicians, with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker recently describing the project as “game-changing”.
“The club are clear that they have the top flight in their sights and now the first look at this stunning new stadium design brings the future into real focus,” he said in a statement today.
“This is yet another bold statement of intent from Tom Wagner and Knighthead as they transform not only this proud club but also the community that it’s stood at the heart of for 120 years.
“New jobs, new homes and new hope are coming, and I’m stepping up with funding for a public transport network that will match the club’s ambitions and open up more opportunity for the people of Small Heath and East Birmingham.”
The Sports Quarters plans have also been highlighted at a national government level by chancellor Rachel Reeves.
“We have every confidence that this has got the appropriate attention,” Mr Wagner recently said.
“We secured £2.4 billion of funding for transport and that’s great for the entirety of this part of the city. We pushed hard on this and got everything we asked for so we have every confidence.”
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