£100m Investment: Birmingham City Owners Unveil Vision for Thriving Sports Quarter to Transform the City

£100m Investment: Birmingham City Owners Unveil Vision for Thriving Sports Quarter to Transform the City

Birmingham City owners Knighthead Capital Management have revealed that they are set to propose the creation of a new £20m ‘tunnel’ system which would transport the public from New Street Station to the exciting new Sports Quarter. The aim is for Blues’ new home to be built and completed by 2029 and Knighthead have already invested £100m to purchase the Wheels site and proceed with planning.

Now, Tom Wagner is set to unveil a proposal to the council which will involve a tunnel being built beneath the city which takes supporters, in the future, from the city centre to the ground in the east of Birmingham. The tunnel would be about a mile and a half in length and would cost around £20m.

“Subways are very expensive and complicated to develop,” Wagner told Insider Media. “We thought of an idea to simply tunnel under the existing rail lines and connect New Street station to the Sports Quarter and use electric buses running underground. It could transport thousands of people an hour. We think it would cost roughly £20m.

“I’m the ‘crazy American’ talking about this, but we need more local voices with the right accent talking about why this is a good idea. The funds are there nationally, and it’s a tiny percentage of those funds that we’re asking for.”

He added: “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 of one of the poorest parts of the UK and crowding in interest and investment from around the globe.”

The new Sports Quarter is set to cost of £3bn all in and is projected to create almost 8,500 jobs, as well as significantly benefit the local economy. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds 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.”

Knighthead have done their homework and know what they’re looking for when the Sports Quarter is being developed; not only will it involve a stadium which could have a capacity which could seat as many as 60,000 and will hopefully one day host concerts and NFL games, but on the campus there’ll be an academy and a training ground. The actual match-day revenue will be a fraction of what the Sports Quarter in general brings in.

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

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added: “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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