The construction of an underground tunnel is the brainchild of Tom Wagner, chairman of Birmingham City FC. The project involves the creation of an innovative underground route, but also the construction of a stadium and sports and entertainment complex to breathe new life into Birmingham.

Tunnel instead of underground?

Birmingham City FC chairman Tom Wagner has announced a bold concept for an underground tunnel that will connect Birmingham New Street station to the planned Sports Quarter in Bordesley Green. The investment, estimated at £20m, is a key part of a larger £3bn city regeneration project. The project involves the creation of a sports and entertainment complex that is expected to attract fans and investors from around the world.

Building a traditional underground network in Birmingham would be too costly and complicated, Wagner noted. Therefore, the club's board of directors came up with the idea of creating a tunnel under the existing railway lines. Using electric buses, the underground route is expected to provide fast and environmentally friendly transport for thousands of people per hour. I'm the "crazy American" talking about this but we need more local voices with the right accent talking about why this is a good idea Wagner stated.

The Birmingham City chairman added that the project has received support from local and regional authorities, but central government support is also needed. The funds are there nationally, and it's a tiny percentage of those funds that we’re asking for.

© Chris Homer

New stadium like a "spaceship"

The new stadium to be built as part of the sports complex is generating just as much excitement as the tunnel. Wagner compared the architectural concept of the facility to a spaceship, but pointed out that the final design is still in the development stage. - Maybe the most important aspect is this huge promenade where people are coming in because not everyone will be watching the game in the stadium because obviously all 62,000 seats are sold, he said.

The 62,000-capacity stadium would become the fifth largest football stadium in England. In addition to Birmingham City matches, the new venue is expected to be suitable for NFL matches and large-scale concerts.

© Szymon Ostrowski

Sports Quarter as a boost to development

The planned Sports Quarter is to include much more than just a stadium. The project involves the construction of a practice field, office buildings, community centres, restaurants and a hotel. In addition, there will be a special park for fans, which is expected to make the space attractive to residents all year round, not just on match days.

Birmingham and the West Midlands have huge untapped potential for growth, and we intend to seize that opportunity - Wagner stated. Knighthead Capital Management, Wagner's investment company, has already invested £100m in developing the region including job creation. In addition, they have purchased the 48-hectare Wheels site at Bordesley Park and surrounding plots for £60m.

While the ambitious plan is to complete the project by 2029, Wagner acknowledged that achieving this will require working closely with local authorities and contractors. My timeframe is lunacy but we'll look to get this completed in five years. In a perfect world, if everyone works with us at the same pace, we're willing to work. I'm going to keep saying it, even if it makes people sweat. A lot of it is outside of our control, but that is the goal - joked Wagner during one of the conferences.

The new stadium is due to be completed in time for the 2029/30 season, and the club will remain at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium until then. This gives Birmingham City five years to return to the Premier League, which is crucial to the success of the project. Otherwise, there is a risk that a stadium with such a large capacity could shine empty during lower league matches.