Birmingham City Football Club has revealed ambitious designs for a spectacular new 62,000-seater stadium, a project set to dramatically reshape the city's skyline and sporting future.
The Championship club announced that the new ground, named the Birmingham City Powerhouse, is planned to open in time for the 2030-31 season. Club chairman Tom Wagner heralded the design as a "modern-day Colosseum" intended to become a global landmark for the city.
A Stadium Inspired by Industrial Heritage
The stadium's striking design is a direct nod to Birmingham's industrial past. It will feature 12 chimney-like towers, one of which will house a lift to what is promised to be Birmingham's highest bar, offering panoramic views across the city.
This new landmark will be so prominent that the club says it will be visible from up to 40 miles away. The vision extends beyond football, with plans for a roof that can fully retract in just 20 minutes and a moveable pitch. This innovative feature will allow the venue to host NFL games, rugby matches, and major concerts, making it a versatile year-round destination.
The Heart of a £3 Billion Sports Quarter
The Powerhouse is the centrepiece of a much larger £3 billion investment into a 60-acre site in Digbeth, less than a mile from the club's current home, St Andrew's. This development aims to create a vibrant new sports and entertainment quarter for the city.
At a launch event in Digbeth, Tom Wagner stated, "We're going to change this city forever. This will be a sports stadium and music venue that will claim the sky to claim the city." He positioned the project as a beacon for a region he feels is often overlooked, adding, "It will be overlooked no more. Together, we're putting this city and our club on a trajectory towards greatness."
Wagner also addressed sceptics directly, quipping, "We're spending a lot of time and money on a stadium that will never be built." The promotional campaign for the stadium even featured global superstar and former academy product Jude Bellingham, alongside minority shareholder Tom Brady and Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson.
A Football-First Venue for Global Events
Despite its multi-use capabilities, Wagner was clear that the Powerhouse remains a "football-first stadium". He promised it would offer the "best acoustics and fan experience anywhere in the world."
"It will be a beacon for excellence for Birmingham on the global stage, attracting the very best sporting and entertainment events," Wagner said. "It's the place where the world's best will want to perform."
The stadium announcement comes as Knighthead Capital Management, co-founded by Wagner, completed its full takeover of the club. After a relegation in their first season, Birmingham City won League One last season and are now targeting successive promotions, with the new Powerhouse symbolising their lofty ambitions for the decades ahead.
