Blues owner kicks off landmark Sports Quarter with £100m investment

Tom Wagner, co-founder of Knighthead and Chairman of Birmingham City FC

Birmingham City FC owner Knighthead has announced a £100m investment to develop a Sports Quarter in the east of the city.

A 60,000-seater stadium will be developed for Blues, alongside a sports campus with training facilities, a new academy and community pitches. The campus will go beyond sport, with leisure, commercial and residential developments set to be delivered.

The Sports Quarter is expected to create 8,400 jobs and provide £370m of growth each year, by bringing international sporting events to the region.

Knighthead acquired the 48-acre site in Bordesley Park last April and set out ambitions of building a globally renowned Sports Quarter on the former Wheels Site.

Tom Wagner, co-founder of Knighthead and Chairman of Birmingham City FC said: “Birmingham and the West Midlands have huge untapped potential for growth, and we intend to seize that opportunity. With the support of government, the Sports Quarter can be a catalyst for regeneration, transforming the prospects for people in one of the poorest parts of the UK and crowding in interest and investment from around the globe.”

American hedge fund manager Wagner took over Blues last May and announced a vision for the Sports Quarter that will place Birmingham on the global stage.

Birmingham City Council agreed to sell the site that extends Blues’ footprint to more than 60 acres, excluding its current stadium.

The sale forms part of the authority’s fire sale of £750m of assets that will pay back part of the £1.255bn received in Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the Government.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is set to visit the site.

He said: “The West Midlands is a powerhouse for investment, and this project will not only play a vital role in bringing thousands of new jobs into the area but will put more money into the pockets of the local community here in East Birmingham.

“Seeing global investors put billions in the UK economy shows the Plan for Change is working, with more and more companies choosing Britain. This is another vote of confidence in our plans to deliver growth that supports skilled jobs and raises living standards across the country.”

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: “The Birmingham Sports Quarter is an exciting venture that highlights how sport can be an important driver for regeneration and growth.

“Across the divisions, our professional football clubs are vital community assets at the heart of towns and cities around the country, so it is fantastic to see investment directly benefiting residents of Birmingham and the wider region.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “This investment is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and the West Midlands. It was made possible by strong partnerships with Knighthead and others committed to our region’s growth.

“We’ve worked to create the perfect conditions to attract investment, and this will bring thousands of jobs, new opportunities, and a major economic boost.

“Working with Tom Wagner and Knighthead, we’ll unlock our region’s full potential – delivering the Sports Quarter and lasting change for the region.”

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