Tom Brady and Birmingham unveil plans for new 62,000-seater stadium

Birmingham City have lifted the curtain on plans for its ambitious new home – a 62,000-seat stadium that will sit at the centre of a huge redevelopment project in Bordesley Green.

The venue, named the Birmingham City Powerhouse, forms the anchor of a multi-billion-pound scheme that club chairman Tom Wagner described as a landmark moment for both the team and the wider region.

Speaking at Thursday’s launch, Wagner said the arena would be visible from as far as 40 miles away and become a “beacon for excellence for Birmingham”.

One of the most striking parts of the design is the ring of 12 chimney-style towers surrounding the structure. They nod to the brickworks that once occupied the site and also support the stadium’s retractable roof, which can close in around 20 minutes.

One tower will house a lift that carries visitors up to a bar with panoramic views across the city.

Explaining the thinking behind the look, Wagner said: “The stadium draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands – a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth.”

The main bowl has been designed to feel steep and enclosed, concentrating noise back towards the pitch. Inside, supporters are set to find an environment built around more than just football, with areas for markets, food spots, cafes and family-focused spaces woven into the concourses.

Birmingham City – currently celebrating their 150th anniversary – hopes the stadium will be ready for the start of the 2030/31 season.

A short film unveiling the plans was played at Digbeth Loc studios, featuring former Blues academy star Jude Bellingham alongside Peaky Blinders character Arthur Shelby.

The project sits at the heart of the wider Sports Quarter development, led by Wagner and supported by the club’s acquisition of the 48-acre former Birmingham Wheels motorsport site.

Beyond the stadium itself, the club says the land will host housing, hotels, green areas and recreational facilities.

Recent government investment has helped give the scheme extra momentum too. In June, Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged £2.4bn for improved transport links across the West Midlands, with the Sports Quarter positioned as a key element of that plan.

Wagner is expected to commit up to £3bn to the overall redevelopment, which is projected to create thousands of jobs.

Announcing the design, Wagner 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.”

He added 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.”

Designer Thomas Heatherwick, whose studio is behind the architectural work, said the focus was on creating something rooted in the city rather than an anonymous, modern bowl.

“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.”