BIRMINGHAM | New Birmingham City FC Stadium | Capacity Unconfirmed | Proposed

[Chrisyd]

I must admit that I am always shocked that a club in a large city has not tried to include a running track by means of retractable or collapsible stands or whatever as surely this could provide it with an additional income stream over the summer months when football is not played. There are loads of stadiums capable of hosting a Rock Concert, but none to hold top level events such as World Athletic Championships/Golden League meeting/Commonwealth Games etc.

[andysimo123]

Originally Posted by van heckler

Good question. Not sure if 55,000 is too much, but I would say 40,000 is definitely not enough for a new stadium. One of the reasons why is because they could probably reach 40k from redeveloping the main stand. A fraction of the cost of a new stadium. Then there's the fact that 40k is less then the 43k at Villa Park.

If a 55k stadium was built with an athletics track, it would surely be the largest in the UK post 2012, unrivalled by any other. If they do go ahead with a new stadium, they should include a track as it would bring in so much revenue.

They don't fill the current ground so how are they even going to fill a 40,000 seater ground. The only club around Birmingham who could fill a 40,000+ seater ground is Villa and even they don't sell out.

[jrb]

Originally Posted by van heckler

Good question. Not sure if 55,000 is too much, but I would say 40,000 is definitely not enough for a new stadium. One of the reasons why is because they could probably reach 40k from redeveloping the main stand. A fraction of the cost of a new stadium. Then there's the fact that 40k is less then the 43k at Villa Park.

If a 55k stadium was built with an athletics track, it would surely be the largest in the UK post 2012, unrivalled by any other. If they do go ahead with a new stadium, they should include a track as it would bring in so much revenue.

Unfortunately the new London Olympic Stadium will be the new home of British Athletics. No need to leave London anymore I'm afraid.

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by andysimo123

They don't fill the current ground so how are they even going to fill a 40,000 seater ground. The only club around Birmingham who could fill a 40,000+ seater ground is Villa and even they don't sell out.

Of course, you are correct in what you say - but I wouldn't cite that as a reason for not building a ground of that size. For what Blues have achieved, contrasted against their attendance's (as well as what the fans are charged to get in!), they must be one of the best supported clubs in the land!!!

In addition, the Midlands needs a stadium of 50,000+ to attract Internationals as well as Cup semi-finals and European showpieces, and it's not for lack of trying, yet funding isn't forthcoming. You can bet that if Blues were able to build a stadium of this size they would have done it by now.

I don't begrudge Man City or Sunderland their big stadiums - attendances always go up when a new ground is built and it would be the same at Birmingham - but they show that 'big' clubs aren't imune from the curse of mediocrity which afflicts the majority of clubs in English football, no matter how successful they've been in the past; and which ultimately affects attendance figures. To get decent crowds year in and year out requires (some) success. What the clubs I've mentioned have done is to speculate - it's what fans expect on the pitch and it's what (within reason) is expected behind the scenes so that 'success' can be brought to a club. It's what Blues fans expect.

[The Concerned Potato]

Originally Posted by Rigadon

Manchester will not get the super casino.

*cough*

[The Concerned Potato]

i posted some info/pictures here

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=262551&page=4

[Gherkin]

Originally Posted by The Concerned Potato

i posted some info/pictures here

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=262551&page=4

Do you mind if I use some of those pics for the 2018 WC thread? Edit: too late

It's a good looking, unique looking stadium - but I can only see it being built sometime after 2012ish if England are chosen to host the 2018 World Cup.

[Dave_PAFC]

It looks very good. When it will happen remains to be seen, but its more or less certain because I doubt Birmingham will be redeveloping the main stand at St Andrews, when the new stadium would be huge for the club and do so much good for the area.

[The Concerned Potato]

plan Z for the Birmingham owners is to redevelop St. Andrew's. the place as it is now is a disgrace.

it's embarrasingly underdeveloped on one side, it looks rubbish from the outside (it's just cheap cladding and glass) and the facilities are atrocious. when they redeveloped it in the 80's and 90's it was always going to be a short-term fix to bring it in line with most other 30,000 seaters rather than building anythng that looks fit enough to house the club of the UK's Second City

the only thing going for St. Andrews is it's location (about 15 minutes walk from the city centre)

[Erebus555]

But a 1 hour bus journey if you get caught in the traffic at the roundabout after Bordesley Station.

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by Erebus555

But a 1 hour bus journey if you get caught in the traffic at the roundabout after Bordesley Station.

Or five minutes if they build a Metro out that way!!!

sigh...

[Brummyboy92]

I cant beleive that Birmingham is the second city and does not have a sports stadium it can be proud of, it is ridiculous. Anyway does anyone know when the next proposal for the stadium (with NO super casino) will be put through to the council, and they better say yes.

[Erebus555]

After an appeal at MIPIM in Cannes earlier this year, Ken Hardeman successfully got investors interested in the stadium and from what I know, several are prepared to invest in this project. The project is going to costly as the ground is contaminated and there is so much ground to decontaminate.

Once a group of investors has been secured, that is when we can finally get down to designing, submitting planning applications and beginning work. The petition is a little useless as BCC cannot grant permission to a stadium that hasn't even been designed yet. BCFC do not even own the land they intend to build the stadium on. BCFC have to raise the money to buy the land, clear it, decontaminate, commission architects, agents, planners and surveyors before even submitting the application.

[Brummyboy92]

Thanks for that Erebus, but what I dont get, why build it in saltley, not the best of areas.

[Telfordboy]

Originally Posted by Erebus555

The petition is a little useless as BCC cannot grant permission to a stadium that hasn't even been designed yet. BCFC do not even own the land they intend to build the stadium on. BCFC have to raise the money to buy the land, clear it, decontaminate, commission architects, agents, planners and surveyors before even submitting the application.

You can actually submit a planning application for land that you don'y own. You have to give notice and all that but its often what supermarkets do to avoid buying land only to realise its undevelopable. You would obviously have to buy the land before any works could commence though.

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by Brummyboy92

Thanks for that Erebus, but what I dont get, why build it in saltley, not the best of areas.

It's a large site with a lot of land available which requires very little demolition. Plus it's got some great transport connections nearby which would be vastly improved if the stadium is built there. The fact that it is a brownfield site makes it much cheaper too. If the stadium is built, the whole of Saltley would be regenerated.

Think about St Andrews; that's not exactly the best area of Birmingham either. I'd much rather like to see the City of Brum stadium in Saltley than in, say, Edgbaston where the effects brought by the stadium would be minimal.

[Red 4 Ever]

Originally Posted by Brummyboy92

I cant beleive that Birmingham is the second city and does not have a sports stadium it can be proud of.

I can't believe Birmingham does not have a team it can be proud of!

[Erebus555]

[Gavin]

I can't believe brummies still think Birmingham is the second city !

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by Gavin

I can't believe brummies still think Birmingham is the second city !

It's not just Brummies though: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=461115

Now let's get this thread back on topic.