Birmingham’s flagship stadium is set to host huge sporting events – but a proposal for its future has been met with backlash
The opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Birmingham’s flagship Alexander Stadium is set to embark on a new chapter in its history despite hundreds signing a petition against a controversial proposal.
The Perry Barr stadium was at the heart of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competition.
The landmark venue is also set to play a pivotal role in hopes of delivering a lasting legacy from the event amid ambitions to put Birmingham on the world sporting map.
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But a divisive plan to hand the running of the site to Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) and its partners, Serco, until 2030 has sparked backlash.
Resident Andrew Gulliver, who launched an online petition against the ‘handover’, argued that Alexander Stadium “belongs to Birmingham, not to Serco”.
“The Alexander Stadium site was built as a lasting legacy for our city,” he wrote. “It was promoted as a long-term benefit for the local community.”
The petition, which has been signed more than 1,000 times, added: “We are calling on Birmingham City Council to halt the planned handover.”
In a report published ahead of a cabinet meeting this week, the council said Alexander Stadium will be the city’s “key facility” for delivering international events as well as national and regional competitions for athletics.
Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium(Image: Birmingham City Council)
“It is therefore essential that the facility now transitions to its most efficient and effective operating model to capitalise on its investment,” it said.
The council has also said the stadium would remain in public ownership and run on its behalf by Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, which already operates nine of its leisure centres.
It continued that the trust has a “proven track record” in improving public participation while lowering costs
“We have agreed to establish a gym user group with council and BCLT representatives to work through issues and concerns collaboratively,” a spokesperson for the council added.
The council report, which recommends that the cabinet approve the proposal, also states that it considered other options for the stadium, such as in-house management and establishing a new organisation.
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However, it was ultimately decided that the proposal from BCLT “provides the best opportunity to maximise an efficient and effective delivery model over the next five years”.
But the council has said there is set to be a detailed review of future options, including a full open tender, in 2030 when the stadium is more established.
The proposal will be considered by cabinet members at a meeting on Tuesday, June 24.
What does the future hold for Alexander Stadium?
Ahead of hosting the European Athletics Championship next August, the council is optimistic that Alexander Stadium can continue to be a world-class venue and boost the city’s reputation internationally.
The stadium was previously revamped with more than £70m of funding in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, before a ‘legacy package’ of investment was approved by the cabinet in October 2022.
This was underpinned by significant funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
In total, an additional £21.4m was allocated to extend and enhance the gym and leisure facilities, along with improvements to Perry Park.
The council just this month celebrated the completion of the legacy transformation project with an event at the stadium, which was attended by stakeholders, partners and Perry the Bull.
Ozzy at the Commonwealth Games, last time he played Birmingham, in 2022(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
Improvements at the stadium include a new 120-station health and fitness suite, a new third generation artificial pitch for football and rugby, a new cycle studio and a refurbished indoors athletics hall.
The permanent lighting arrangement in the main stadium has also been designed to “future-proof future growth and the securing of other major televised events”.
At Perry Park, the redevelopment work includes a replacement children’s playground and new sports activation zone for the community, with new routes around the park and reservoir for running, walking and cycling.
Coun Mariam Khan, the council’s cabinet member for health and social care, said the redevelopment cemented the stadium’s position as a “world-class international sports venue”.
“With the European Athletics Championships arriving in 2026 and the UK Athletics Championship and English Schools Athletics Championships amongst other events taking place at Alexander Stadium this summer, it is an exciting time for sport in Birmingham,” she said.
Katie Sadleir, CEO at Commonwealth Sport, added that the stadium’s transformation is an “inspiring example of the continued legacy” of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“We are proud to see this legacy come to life in Perry Barr and look forward to seeing the stadium thrive as a hub for sport, learning and community engagement for years to come,” she said.