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Blues’ massive Sports Quarter project could 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 the city council last year and have since unveiled plans to create a “global destination”. Amid these proposals, the government announced last year that £2.4 billion worth of funding would go towards connecting the planned Sports Quarter to the city centre. At the club’s most recent Open House event, fans were given further insight into the Blues’ vision for the new stadium, which has been designed to attract huge shows and concerts to the city. Blues chairman Tom Wagner also confirmed the stadium design will be revealed later this month on November 20. He went on to claim the new stadium would be visible from the edge of the Cotswolds when asked about the new city centre store opened by rivals Aston Villa. “When I go the Bullring, there’s a certain sports store that really pains me,” someone attending the event asked. “Would you consider, as another revenue stream, setting up a store in the city or elsewhere?” Wagner responded: “If you think seeing that store pains you because you can see it from 30 yards away, imagine how they’re going to feel when there’s a stadium you can see from every single place in the city. “I was standing on a hill just outside Broadway [in south Worcestershire] about 35 miles away and you will see the stadium from there.” CEO Jeremy Dale added that the club is looking at other retail locations. The ambition behind the stadium proposals being showcased at the event sparked a fresh wave of optimism among fans, with one writing on social media: “Tears of joy not sorrows. “The giant is waking up from its slumber and will never fall asleep again.” “It will be a class stadium – modern and with traditional roots of history to go with it,” another said. “I’m a life-time Blues fan who has experienced very little joy and too many sorrows in those 60 years,” a third added. “But I’m more excited about BCFC now than ever before. “Thank you Tom Wagner and Knighthead from the bottom of my heart.” The proposals are also being hailed by local politicians, with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker recently describing the project as “game-changing”. “World-class businesses like Knighthead Capital are investing because they share our vision and confidence,” the Labour mayor said. 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 club said the partnership would deliver a project that would be “truly extraordinary, recognisable around the globe, yet rooted in the history of Birmingham”.
