Birmingham City stadium unlocks new Sports Quarter

Birmingham City Football Club has unveiled the design for a new 62,000-seat stadium in East Birmingham, part of a major regeneration initiative to create a mixed-use Sports Quarter in the Bordesley Green area. The project, led by Knighthead Capital Management, forms a key part of the club’s wider ambitions and represents a significant urban development for the city.

Designed by Heatherwick Studio in collaboration with MANICA Architecture, the stadium is planned as a multi-functional venue capable of hosting a broad range of sporting and entertainment events. Its location places it at the heart of a long-term strategy to transform the surrounding area into a vibrant sporting and cultural destination with year-round appeal.

The announcement coincides with the club’s 150th anniversary and was unveiled at the Digbeth Loc Film Studios. It marks a pivotal step in Knighthead’s broader redevelopment plans for East Birmingham, where the stadium is expected to serve not only as the new home of Birmingham City FC but also as a focal point for retail, leisure, housing and community infrastructure.

The proposed design integrates references to the city’s industrial legacy, including twelve tower-like chimneys inspired by historic brickworks. These structural elements will support the stadium’s retractable roof, house vertical transport systems, and assist with ventilation. One tower will include a lift to a rooftop bar, set to become Birmingham’s highest, offering panoramic city views and an immersive experience.

The stadium’s bowl design features steeply raked stands placed close to the pitch, aimed at creating an intense atmosphere for spectators. The high-performance acoustics are intended to amplify crowd noise and enhance the live event experience. In addition to football, the venue is being designed for flexibility, with a moveable pitch and roof enabling it to host concerts, major sporting events and cultural programmes throughout the year.

Knighthead Co-CEO and Birmingham City Chairman Tom Wagner described the project as both a milestone for the club and a symbol of the region’s growing ambition. He said the stadium “draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands – a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth,” and expressed confidence that the development would foster new opportunities and prosperity for communities that have been “starved of opportunities for too long.”

Heatherwick Studio founder Thomas Heatherwick emphasised the stadium’s community focus, stating that it was designed not as an isolated structure but as a space that “grows from Birmingham itself.” He described the surrounding precinct as a place for daily use, with spaces for play, gathering and social activity intended to activate the area beyond matchdays.

David Manica, president of MANICA Architecture, noted that the design aims to reflect the “grit and passion” of Birmingham’s people. He referred to the stadium as “The Powerhouse” and said it was conceived to honour the current fanbase while preparing for future generations.

The development will form the core of the proposed Birmingham Sports Quarter, a mixed-use project that Knighthead and the club say will deliver new housing, jobs, transport links and community services across East Birmingham. Early engagement has begun with local residents, supporters, political leaders and planning officials, ahead of a formal planning application expected in 2026.

The timeline for completion targets the start of the 2030–31 football season. Knighthead describes the Sports Quarter as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to catalyse economic growth and reshape a significant part of the city. The wider scheme is intended to integrate leisure, entertainment, retail, wellbeing and community facilities, aiming to revitalise an area with a long history but limited recent investment.

With the unveiling of the stadium design, Birmingham City and its ownership group have taken the first public step in a long-term urban development plan that seeks to align top-level football infrastructure with inclusive regeneration and sustained economic uplift for the region.