Birmingham City Football Club has provided a comprehensive update on the proposed Sports Quarter, which includes the 62,500-seater stadium known as The Powerhouse. The update was delivered by head of infrastructure Nick Smith during a forum on Wednesday evening.
Planning Timeline
The planning application for the Sports Quarter is expected to be submitted in March 2027. Knighthead, the club's ownership group, anticipates a swift approval process, having maintained close communication with the council regarding plans and designs. Once approved, Knighthead will prepare the land—spanning over 125 acres in East Birmingham—so that construction can commence immediately.
Transport and Access
A dedicated walkway, temporarily named 'Blues Way', will transport supporters to The Powerhouse. Nick Smith described it as 'Wembley Way but much better.' Blues Way is one of three primary entry routes, alongside a north-south route and Tilton Road.
Plans include extending the current tramline to reach the back of The Tilton, with future expansion to the airport. Adderley Park Station will be upgraded to accommodate 12-carriage trains, compared to its current four-carriage capacity. Two mobility hubs will provide 1,200 parking spaces to meet FIFA and UEFA standards for major events. A coach station at the northern mobility hub will ferry fans to and from the city centre and Curzon Street Station, the future HS2 stop. Smith humorously referred to it as 'our 1875 bus on steroids.'
Fan Facilities
Four distinct fan parks surrounding the stadium will accommodate over 25,000 spectators. Inside the ground, there will be at least 125 points of sale for beverages, capable of serving 266,000 pints on a matchday. Hospitality offerings range from a skyline-view lounge in the tallest chimney to a premium bar adjacent to the player tunnel.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
The stadium will feature 660 general accessible and ambulant accessible seats, 160 additional seats with hospitality areas, 95 family WCs, baby changing and feeding spaces, two sensory rooms, three quiet rooms, and nine multifaith spaces.
Pitch Preservation
To protect the pitch during non-football events, a space beneath the south stand will allow for watering and light exposure. The design draws inspiration from Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium.
