New twist in Birmingham City stadium development - Tom Wagner urged to "crack on" | OneFootball

Blues' upcoming new home could also host Rugby Union and NFL matches

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Birmingham City's ambitious owners, Knighthead Capital Management, have been urged to "crack on" amid plans that the club's upcoming 'Powerhouse' stadium could regularly house sporting events aside from the current Championship club's home fixtures.

Plans for Blues' new home were first mooted in April 2024 by Knighthead's frontman, Tom Wagner, less than a year after his American hedge fund firm acquired an initial stake in the club, and just weeks before they were relegated to League One.

Almost two years later, though, and the West Midlands club are a whole new entity in so many ways, but Wagner's ambition has shown no signs of slowing down, despite a constant barrage of scepticism from those beyond the blue half of the Second City.

Indeed, many supporters of rival clubs questioned whether plans for the upcoming stadium build, as part of a multi-billion Sports Quarter regeneration project on the derelict Birmingham Wheels track would come to light.

Those verdicts were more than quashed on November 20th at Digbeth Loc Studios when the 'Powerhouse', developed by Heatherwick Studio and MANICA Design, were showcased to the watching world with a teaser video that included Wagner, minority stakeholder, Tom Brady and Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham.

The aforementioned video highlighted the scope which the stadium will have to be a sporting, tourist and community hub for 365 days a year, with concerts and sporting events expected to be held at the 62,000-seater arena, although the Sports Quarter plans also showcased a smaller-capacity indoor arena which will be built adjacently.

In the weeks which have followed the stadium unveiling, several extensive possibilities have been mooted when it comes to further sporting events being held in this part of Birmingham. As such, FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, welcomes those concepts.

Birmingham City urged to "crack on" amid potential NFL, Rugby fixtures at 'Powerhouse' stadium

Image supplied through Grayling

Just two days after the stadium plans were released, with an opening timescale of summer 2030 hinted, it was reported by the Sun that Blues are keen to liaise with the Football Association over the possibility of Lionesses outings becoming a regular occurrence after their two-time European Championship success under Sarina Wiegman.

With features such as a retractable roof and pitch also mooted, it is expected that NFL games will be held at the Powerhouse given Brady's influence on the sport as a seven-time Super Bowl champion and his recent Amazon Prime docuseries relating to the Championship side.

It has since been claimed that the RFU (Rugby Football Union) have also been approached over the possibility of seeing a top side formed in Birmingham, and that the 'Powerhouse' could be used as a home venue.

Indeed, Rugby is not a popular sport in the West Midlands, with Birmingham Moseley currently featuring at the 5,000-capacity Billesley Common ground in Yardley Wood.

Blues have, of course, recently shared St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park with local rivals, Coventry City, when the Sky Blues were evicted from the Coventry Building Society Arena - which they now own - by now-deceased Wasps, who also used to own Birmingham's current EPIC training facilities.

However, Moore sees no issue with the stadium being multi-purpose.

"I don't actually mind the idea of (it) being a multi-share stadium," he told FLW. "The owners have said quite openly, that's what they want to do, that the stadium and everything else on site is in use all-year-round.

"I have no problem with it. First and foremost, if a big rugby side is made in Birmingham, that will still be known to everyone as Birmingham City's football ground. It just will," he added.

"I imagine we would have the capability to drop the pitch and put a rugby pitch on, just so the markings aren't there when football is played.

"I really don't care. As long as it doesn't impact the football, which is going to be on their minds first and foremost, go for it.

"If it brings in revenue, puts money in their pockets, then whatever. They (Knighthead) warrant it through what they're building," Moore claimed.

"For the NFL matches being there as well, I'm more than happy with that.

"They've said quite frequently that they're trying to build the 'Wembley of the Midlands', so go for it. Let's have NFL matches in Birmingham and make this stadium a symbol that any sporting events or concerts, the go-to places are Wembley or this stadium.

"Let's make us the more attractive option than the Spurs stadium," he stated.

"Do what you want. As long as it's a cracking stadium, and it's there for us to watch the football, they can do what they want. I really don't care.

"They can even put monster trucks there for all I care. As long as the football's there and they've got creative ways of bringing money in, then crack on."

NFL and Rugby Union matches would help previous Tom Wagner revenue claim

Given the fact St. Andrew's currently holds a capacity of 29,409, many have doubted whether Birmingham would fill 62,000 seats. Yet, on the flipside, there were in excess of 43,000 Bluenoses who travelled to Wembley Stadium in April for the EFL Trophy final against Peterborough United, showcasing such potential.

Of course, a major play in the stadium move is the opportunity to continue growing revenue streams, which are hugely important in the modern footballing landscape to comply with PSR regulations.

As such, Wagner believes that the Powerhouse will generate £750m per year, and the hosting of NFL and Rugby Union matches would go a long way into doing just that, particularly with the attraction of not having to travel far for local sports fans based in the centre of the country.