Birmingham City Football Club – whose owners recently unveiled ambitious plans to build a new £3bn sports quarter in the city - has become a patron of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
The club was acquired in July 2023 by US-based Knighthead Capital Management, spearheaded by chairman Tom Wagner. In the same month Garry Cook, Birmingham born and a life-long Blues supporter, was appointed CEO.
A month later, Blues attracted global media attention when American Football icon and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was announced as a minority investor and chair of a new advisory board.
Since then, the club has embarked on a series of major projects including significant upgrades to current stadium St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and the club’s two training grounds, EPIC and the Knighthead Performance Centre.
It also launched the Birmingham City Foundation which is focused on improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of local people.
The planned new Sports Quarter will be located on the former Birmingham Wheels site, adjacent to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Proposals for the site include a new state-of-the-art stadium, training pitches, commercial developments and dedicated local community spaces.
On the pitch, Blues men’s and women’s teams are challenging for promotions, while significant investments are being made into the club’s academy.
Garry Cook, Birmingham City chief executive officer, said: “I am hugely excited to strengthen our association with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce at a time when Birmingham – and business in Birmingham – is on the rise again.
“The club’s stated ambition is to be a beacon of excellence for Birmingham on the global stage. Birmingham City Football Club, through major initiatives like the Sports Quarter and our Foundation, is going to be one of the biggest stories in world football in the next decade.
“We will bring a global audience to our great city. This creates opportunities. We look forward to working closely with the GBCC and its members to ensure that these are fully maximised.”
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “Birmingham City Football Club is a leading example of a business that’s shaping this great city.
“Their focus on community impact, combined with the transformative regeneration potential of their major investment plans are exceptional. They are a vocal and visible champion for ‘brand Birmingham’ across the globe.
“Our patrons are an exclusive network of the city-region’s most dynamic and civic minded organisations. They are our key partners in our work to unleash the potential of Greater Birmingham’s businesses.
“I am delighted that we will be joining forces with Blues to build on their longstanding relationship with the Chamber of Commerce and to help shape the city-region’s future.”
