Birmingham City reveal £3bn vision for new ‘powerhouse stadium’

November 21, 2025 Oliver Obel

The club—recently promoted back to the Championship after a single season in League One—has spent the past year developing what it calls the “Sports Quarter,” a 60-acre site located within walking distance of the city centre. The plan goes far beyond a new home ground, positioning the zone as a mixed-use district designed to draw visitors throughout the week.

Supporters were given their most detailed look yet on 20 November, when Birmingham City released a video featuring former midfielder Jude Bellingham and minority owner Tom Brady. Their involvement underscored the club’s global aspirations as it embarks on one of the most ambitious stadium projects in recent English football history.

In the footage, chairman Tom Wagner describes the future district as a constant hub of activity rather than a venue that lies dormant outside matchdays. According to the club’s video, Wagner said the area is expected to be “an absolute madhouse” when the Blues are playing, but also a daily gathering spot for eating, shopping and entertainment.

Bellingham is told the project will take “five years, apparently,” nudging the completion date toward 2030. Brady adds that the facility is being designed with NFL events in mind—a notable detail for a club aiming to broaden its appeal beyond traditional football audiences.

A multi-venue entertainment complex

Earlier reporting from BBC Sport highlighted Wagner’s ambition to create “an entertainment venue unlike many others in the world,” with seating capacity more than doubling that of St Andrew’s. Current proposals include:

a 62,000-seat main stadium
a 15,000–20,000-capacity indoor arena
a multi-purpose show pitch suitable for rugby, American football and international events

Club statements note that the primary stadium will feature a retractable pitch, allowing the venue to pivot between football, concerts and large-scale non-sporting events without damaging the playing surface.

Beyond the sports facilities, the district is expected to house a new training centre for senior and academy squads, community pitches, retail and leisure amenities, an education hub, hotel development and landscaped public areas. The club has emphasized that the site is meant to serve Birmingham residents as much as match-going fans.

A bold transport proposal

One of the most eye-catching elements of the plan involves matchday travel. The Sun reported that Birmingham City and Knighthead are exploring a 1.5-mile underground tunnel connecting Birmingham New Street station with the Sports Quarter in Bordesley Green.

The idea, Wagner told the outlet, is to run electric shuttle buses beneath existing rail lines—an approach he estimates could cost around £20 million and move thousands of passengers per hour.

If realized, the route would significantly alter how supporters reach the ground and could ease congestion around the site.

Economic potential and next steps

Knighthead projects the wider Sports Quarter could generate around 3,000 jobs once completed. Local officials have previously noted that few European cities possess such a large undeveloped area so close to the urban core, making Birmingham an unusually suitable candidate for a regeneration scheme on this scale.

The original hope was to finish construction in 2029, though the timeline appears to have shifted. With designs now public, the club is set to enter more detailed phases of planning, consultation and funding.

Whether Birmingham City return to the Premier League in the near future remains to be seen. But the Powerhouse Stadium project—if delivered—would mark one of the most significant off-pitch transformations in the club’s 150-year history.

Sources: BBC Sport, The Sun, Birmingham City FC communications.