How Birmingham City's old 55,000 stadium idea compares to the new Powerhouse plans | OneFootball

Blues very nearly had a smaller ground built on the exact same site as the Sports Quarter

Birmingham City's American ownership group, Knighthead Capital Management, are certainly beginning to lay the foundations for a transformative rebuild in this part of England's second-largest city.

For many years, Blues supporters have endured false dawns under those who previously held the keys to the boardroom at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, which resulted in years of decline and stagnation in the Championship between their relegations from the Premier League and into League One in the summers of 2011 and 2024 respectively.

At present, the task is clear for Tom Wagner and minority stakeholders and advisors such as the NFL's most-legendary quarterback, Tom Brady, and that is to return the West Midlands club to their previous position as an established Premier League club, before achieving what has previously been the 'unachievable' in these parts, which is to make Birmingham a sustained dominant force in the top-flight, competing with the likes of bitter rivals, Aston Villa.

Many have questioned whether such feats are achievable and sustainable in the long-term, with such criticisms initially coming to the fore when Knighthead unveiled plans for a new stadium as part of a multi-billion pound 'Sports Quarter' regeneration project in April 2024, just weeks before Blues' first stint in League One since 1995 was confirmed.

Wagner's ambition and forward way of thinking knows no bounds at present though, with Birmingham immediately returning to the Championship in record-breaking style, before unveiling their new stadium plans to the world on Thursday, November 20th at Digbeth Loc Studios.

However, they aren't the only plans that have been drawn up for a redevelopment of the derelict Birmingham Wheels site, as David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady hoped for a similar outcome during their time in the boardroom.

How David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady failed with proposed new Birmingham City stadium

The aforementioned trio were involved in overseeing matters at Blues from 1993 until 2009 when Sullivan initially took control of the club for £1.25m after it had been placed into administration, initially redeveloping St. Andrew's as the club rose from the third-tier and eventually into the Premier League for the first time under Steve Bruce, ending a hiatus from the top-flight which had lasted since 1986.

After consolidating in the division under Bruce, plans were then put in place for the club to move across to the Wheels site in the late 2000s, with it being revealed in December 2004 that Las Vegas Sands would build a new stadium that could house between 55,000 and 60,000 spectators if a super casino was to be built in the adjacent vicinity.

The further plan was that Birmingham City Council would also rent the stadium to Birmingham, with its design based on the now-named Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Brady described it as the "opportunity of a lifetime" as Blues hoped to move firmly into the 21st century in terms of infrastructure. However, it would prove nothing but a pipe dream.

Instead, Birmingham City Council would back plans for a new casino at the National Exhibition Centre further down Coventry Road, with then-leader, Mike Whitby, believing that, in a roundabout way, the funds generated from a new casino would eventually help generate plans for a new stadium and regeneration in Bordesley Green and Small Heath.

Image supplied through Grayling

Whilst it would have changed the club's trajectory almost two decades ago, there is no question that Blues' current owners have clearly learnt from past mistakes when drawing up plans for the new 62,000-seater 'Powerhouse' stadium, despite a design featuring 12 chimneys which have caused a mixed reaction.

The aforementioned design pays homage to the city's industrial heritage, whilst Wagner has already claimed how it will make at least £750m per annum in revenue to help Blues progress forward and attract big-name players.

Given the club's connection to Brady, NFL games are expected to be held in Birmingham for the first time in the years to come, whilst locals are benefitting massively through the Sports Quarter due to a projected generation of 8,400 jobs and a multitude of retail and commercial opportunities, as well as training facilities for Blues' Men's and Women's first-team squads plus the academy being under one roof.