Knighthead Unveils New Birmingham City Stadium Plans
Birmingham City FC owners, Knighthead Capital Management, have unveiled its ambitious new stadium design, developed by world-renowned Heatherwick Studio and MANICA Architecture.
The 62,000-capacity stadium, to be located in Bordesley Green in East Birmingham, will become a major new city landmark that reflects the region’s industrial heritage while embracing cutting-edge engineering.
It will sit at the heart of the planned Sports Quarter development, transforming the area into a vibrant sporting and cultural destination.
Heatherwick Studio secured the design commission in collaboration with MANICA Architecture, a global leader in sports and entertainment venues and Steven Knight – acclaimed writer, filmmaker and lifelong Blues supporter.
The first images of the proposed design were unveiled at Digbeth Loc Film Studios in Birmingham, coinciding with the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Tom Wagner, Knighthead Co-CEO and Birmingham City Chairman, said: “This is a huge milestone for Birmingham City Football Club, creating a home for the club that reflects our ambition to compete at the highest level.
“More than that, the iconic design is a statement of intent for the City of Birmingham and the West Midlands, testament to a region that is on the rise.
“The stadium draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands – a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth. I believe those same qualities can create a new era of success on and off the field and prosperity for local communities that have been starved of opportunities for too long.”
The designs feature a retractable roof and moveable pitch, enabling year-round flexibility for major sporting events, international music concerts and large-scale cultural experiences.
Fans will enjoy an intense matchday atmosphere created by a steep bowl designed to pull the stands as close and as steep to the pitch as can be allowed to create a 360-degree wall of fans.
The stadium’s high-performing acoustics will amplify the sound of the crowd, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for home supporters.
The twelve chimney-form towers echo the brickworks that once sat on the site. They will provide structural support for the roof while accommodating lifts and staircases and helping with ventilation. One chimney will include a lift to Birmingham’s highest bar, offering citywide views and an immersive storytelling experience.
The wider precinct has been designed as a year-round destination – with markets, cafés, restaurants, play areas and social spaces for all.
Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, said: “Too often, stadiums feel like spaceships that could have landed anywhere, sterilising the surrounding area. This stadium grows from Birmingham itself – from its brickworks, its thousand trades and the craft at its core.
“It’s also a wholehearted place for the community. The stadium will truly come alive where it meets the ground; a place for play, gathering and everyday life. The goal is to capture the spirit of the city and give it back to Birmingham.”
David Manica, president and owner of MANICA Architecture, said: “Birmingham is a resilient and passionate community, so the design of this new stadium needed to embody the grit and passion of its people.
“The Powerhouse’s design is both intentional and meticulous, paying homage to a passionate fanbase while laying the foundation for the Bluenoses of tomorrow.”
Knighthead and the club have commenced a period of engagement and consultation with local people, fans, political representatives and planning officers before lodging a planning application for the Sports Quarter in 2026. The ambition is for the new stadium to be completed in time for the start of the 2030-31 season.
The new stadium will anchor the Birmingham Sports Quarter in East Birmingham, a once in a generation opportunity to catalyse growth and transform the lives and livelihoods of people across East Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
The Sports Quarter will provide transformative investment into the area, driving new economic growth in East Birmingham and across the region. It will include a mix of new facilities – from leisure and entertainment to retail and wellbeing – as well as dedicated spaces for the community. It will also bring better transport links, new housing and jobs at every level.
Images: Birmingham City FC
