Tom Wagner gives new stadium latest as Birmingham City make Sports Quarter promise

Tom Wagner says Knighthead’s commitment to building a new stadium and Sports Quarter in Birmingham remains ‘unwavering’.

Birmingham City chairman Wagner has also told supporters that his words regarding the new stadium are pointed after he called on the Government to support his vision for the city by speeding up planning, guaranteeing reasonably priced energy and improving transport links.

Blues have acquired around 60 acres of land in East Birmingham to build a Sports Quarter which will house a state-of-the-art stadium, training facilities for its teams, hotels and hospitality venues.

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Addressing supporters via video link at the latest Open House event, Wagner said: “We are deeply involved in complex planning and negotiations that will lay the groundwork for the development of the Sports Quarter. Our heads are down and we remain fully committed to doing the work needed to make this vision a reality.

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“While we’re not yet at a point where we can share every detail, please know that we are making progress. Our commitment remains unwavering and we ask for your continued confidence as we navigate the process.

“Try not to hang on every word we say, or every press we read, or every tweet we see from across town. Your trust and belief in our vision mean everything to us and we hope that you have faith that there is a well conceived plan driving every action, utterance and strategic decision.”

Wagner originally suggested the Sports Quarter could be up and running by the summer of 2029 but even he admitted that would be wishful thinking. The complexities of building a new stadium aren’t lost on Blues’ leadership team.

Asked for a more realistic timeframe, chief executive Garry Cook said: “I can’t and the reason for that is that Tom and his ambition is well documented at local and national level, particularly at Government level. One of the reasons we can’t share much information is because there are so many moving parts.

“This is not just looking for planning permission to put an extension on your house, this is mind-blowing and as we go through this period there’s a lot of things that have to be done, and you can’t really predict at any point in time.

“I know Tom and if Tom had his choice it would be as soon as we had the space for the ground we would open and it would be kicking off in five years’ time at that stadium. The goal is set, the ambition is set, the reality is there are so many moving parts that will impact that timeline.”

As head of infrastructure, Nick Smith has played a central role in redeveloping St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and he will lead the building work at the Sports Quarter. Smith has promised supporters that they will have a say on the design.

He said: “I want you all to be assured, fans both in the room and outside watching, that you will have a voice about what the design will look like, what we take from here, what we make new, what the new family area looks like, what the new home end looks like. You will absolutely have a voice.

“We have started the masterplan and what some of the blocks might look like. We definitely don’t have the same AI programme that have shot out four or five designs you’ve seen!”