Wagner’s Sports Quarter regeneration plan starts taking shape
Birmingham’s Sports Quarter is shaping up as one of the city’s most ambitious regeneration projects, headed up by Knighthead Capital Management and their co-founder, BCFC Chairman Tom Wagner.
Wagner’s experience includes an impressive history of regenerating underutilised urban areas and turning them into successful, multi-use districts. Through Knighthead, he’s also led multi-billion-pound investments in both the U.S. and Europe, often focusing on complex, transformational projects that combine commercial viability with social impact.
Speaking at the Regional Investment Summit alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Wagner outlined the stadium collaboration which will see multi-award-winning British designers Heatherwick Studio partner with Kansas-based architectural powerhouse MANICA.
They will be supported by Steven Knight, the iconic film writer/director and lifelong Blues fan, to unlock the area’s untapped potential to create opportunities for long-term value creation across multiple sectors and residents across the city.
Crucially, it’s integrated with major transport improvements such as a £2.4 billion regional transport investment that includes a new Metro line, connecting the development to Birmingham city centre and upgrade to Adderley Park Station and HS2’s Curzon Street station, improving accessibility for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
The Sports Quarter is expected to create 16,400 jobs in construction and 14,000 in operation, as well as stimulate local businesses.