Birmingham City Football Club has unveiled ambitious plans for a striking new 62,000-seater stadium, dubbed "The Powerhouse," set to become the centerpiece of a wider Sports Quarter development in East Birmingham. The stadium's design, a collaboration between Heatherwick Studio and US-based firm MANICA, pays homage to the city's industrial heritage with the inclusion of 12 enormous chimneys positioned around the exterior. The club aims to have the stadium ready for use by the 2030-31 season.
The "Powerhouse" stadium will be located on a vast 135-acre site in Bordesley Park, East Birmingham, as part of the proposed Sports Quarter. This large-scale regeneration project is expected to transform a significant area of land. The stadium's design incorporates a traditional seating bowl topped by a steel roof, seemingly hung from the brick chimneys. One of the chimneys will even feature a lift to Birmingham's new highest bar. Plans also include a movable pitch and retractable roof, enhancing the stadium's versatility for various events, including concerts.
The stadium's design is deeply rooted in Birmingham's history. The 12 chimneys are directly inspired by the city's former brickworks, aiming to blend Birmingham's historic identity with a modern, 21st-century facility. Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studio, emphasized that the stadium "grows from Birmingham itself – from its brickworks, its thousand trades, and the craft at its core". He envisions the stadium as a community hub, "a place for play, gathering, and everyday life," capturing and returning the spirit of the city. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, acted as a consultant to ensure the design captured the essence of the city.
The project represents a significant investment in both the club and the city. The overall cost is estimated at £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion), with £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) specifically for the stadium and the remaining funds allocated to infrastructure upgrades. Club ownership, led by Chairman Tom Wagner and with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority shareholder, views the stadium as a catalyst for greatness for both Birmingham City and the city itself. Wagner stated the project would put the city and the club "on trajectory towards greatness" and serve as a "beacon of excellence for Birmingham on the global stage".
The unveiling event at Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham featured a promotional video with cameos from Brady, former Birmingham City player Jude Bellingham, and actor Paul Anderson. Bellingham responded with "Wow" upon seeing the stadium's images, while Brady said fans are "in for a blast" and predicted the stadium would attract "the biggest music stars".
Beyond the stadium itself, the development includes new training facilities, a new academy, community pitches, and commercial space to support local businesses. This comprehensive approach aims to create approximately 3,000 local jobs and provide a new home for all of the club's teams' training activities. The club's owners purchased the former 48-acre Wheels motor-racing site in Bordesley Green for this major development.
With conceptual designs now public, the club's immediate focus is securing the necessary planning permissions, a critical hurdle before construction can begin. If realized, the 62,000-seater stadium would be the second largest in the country, after Manchester United's Old Trafford. The club believes the stadium will be visible from 40 miles away.
