Alexander Stadium is handed over for final leg of Games-time preparations
Almost three years of work to redevelop the city’s Alexander Stadium has reached its most significant milestone yet.
The venue has been handed over by the city council to Birmingham 2022 for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The council has overseen the £72million project to revamp the stadium ahead of the biggest event in the city’s history. Despite planning permission being obtained just before the wettest February in history (February 2020) and the work being delivered during the unprecedented circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, the scheme has remained on budget and schedule.
After the handover, Birmingham 2022 has now taken up tenancy and will finalise the temporary Games-time enhancements that will turn it into a 30,000-seat venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as all of the athletics and Para athletics competition.
Post-Games, the temporary overlay will be removed, leaving a legacy facility with just under 18,000 seats, acting as a focal point for sport, health, wellbeing and community activity in Perry Barr and the wider area of north west Birmingham, with a strong claim for the modernised facility to once again be declared the home of British athletics.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The new-look Alexander Stadium is absolutely stunning and it's testament to the vision and hard work of everyone involved in this project that it has already been hailed as the best athletics stadium in the country.
“Birmingham has a venue to be truly proud of and we look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches and spectators for what I am confident will be an unforgettable Commonwealth Games.”
Dave Wagg, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Birmingham City Council, said: “Having been working in sport and leisure for the council for 25 years, the pride I feel in having overseen the transformation of this facility is almost overwhelming.
“Despite the massive challenges thrown at us over the last two years, none of which could have been imagined at the time Birmingham was named as host city for the Games, we have come through and delivered exactly what was required.
“That is due to the hard work and effort of many people engaged on the project – I offer my thanks to everyone who had a role on the scheme and cannot wait to see the Stadium on the international stage for Birmingham 2022.”
Dominic Olliff, Director of Venues for Birmingham 2022, said: “The newly redeveloped Alexander Stadium looks fantastic. We are delighted to take up tenancy for the next few months, as we make the final preparations for and then deliver the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“As it will host the track and field programme, and our Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Stadium is a hugely important venue for the Games, and it has been a joy to witness its incredible transformation over the last couple of years.”
As well as funding for the Stadium, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has also supported Birmingham 2022 with the development of new transport infrastructure, skills training to support local people into jobs with the Games and, through Transport for West Midlands, is coordinating road, rail, bus and tram networks to ensure the region keeps moving during this summer’s event.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “The Alexander Stadium will be a real focal point for the Commonwealth Games, and I am delighted we have been able to support its redevelopment.
“Not only will it be a great asset for the region supporting economic growth and jobs, but by being a world class sporting venue on our doorstep it will help to inspire more people to get active and improve the region’s health and wellbeing.
“The £25million we have put towards the stadium is just a part of the huge investment being made by the WMCA across the region ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games. This includes vital investment in Perry Barr itself through a new railway station, cycling and walking facilities, and a new bus priority route to make it one of the best-connected areas in the whole city.”
Louise Brooke-Smith, Board Director of Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), said: “Working with Birmingham City Council and other partners, our investment of £20million has culminated in the delivery of this world-class sporting venue.
“It’s set to play a pivotal role when our city and region is in the international spotlight later this year. Our contribution has not just funded a stage for sports and events but it’s leaving a legacy for the local area. Residents and businesses in Perry Barr are already benefitting from the wider regeneration that is taking place.
“This scheme was one of over 100 projects funded through our £207.9 million Local Growth Fund which GBSLEP delivered through our triple helix structure of bringing public, private and academic sectors together to drive forward inclusive economic growth.”
The Alexander Stadium will stage the Opening Ceremony for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on the 28 July and the closing Ceremony on the 8 August. The athletics and Para athletics programme will be held in the stadium from 2 to 7 August. Tickets for the Games went back on sale last month and all the details are available at www.birmingham2022.com
About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on the global stage.
The Games has been a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sporting celebration.
The Birmingham 2022 Festival, a six month long cultural programme which started in March 2022, will also shine a light on the region’s cultural sector.
Birmingham 2022 will bring people together from across Birmingham and the region, to providing a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.
About the Alexander Stadium redevelopment
Funding for the Alexander Stadium Redevelopment comes from three sources: Birmingham City Council (£27.4million), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (£20million) and West Midlands Combined Authority (£25million).
About WMCA
Led by the Mayor of the West Midlands, the WMCA brings together 18 local councils and three Local Enterprise Partnerships to oversee the transfer of powers and funding from Whitehall to the West Midlands.
The WMCA is putting these new powers from government back where they belong, in local hands, bringing the region together to build a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous West Midlands.
Billions of pounds are being invested by the WMCA to improve the region’s transport network, transform its derelict industrial land into new homes and workplaces, support existing businesses and help grow the innovative, green industries of the future.
At the heart of this vision is a strong economy that is both green and inclusive, one that supports the region’s ambition to be net zero carbon by 2041 and offers everyone the opportunity of a good quality, affordable home and the skills needed for a worthwhile job.
About GBSLEP
The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Limited (GBSLEP) is a partnership of business, public sector and further and higher education leaders. Its mission is to drive inclusive economic growth across the city-region, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for everyone.
GBSLEP are proud to be contributing £20 million from the Local Growth Fund to the re-development of Alexander Stadium, which will act a catalyst for wider investment in the area.
The GBSLEP area spans nine local authority areas: Birmingham, Solihull, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth, Redditch, Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest.