Stadium passed to Games organisers
AFTER over two years of major reconstruction, Perry Barr’s newlook Alexander Stadium has officially changed hands from Birmingham City Council to Birmingham 2022 organisers.
The £72 million transformation has taken place in rain and shine, ensuring the venue is fit for all the athletics events and the opening and closing ceremonies. Sell-out crowds and a global audience will watch the Games in the summer.
According to Birmingham City Council, the project powered through the pandemic and arrived within budget and ahead of schedule.
Birmingham 2022 will now take the reigns and finalise temporary enhancements, turning the stadium into a 30,000-seater.
The opening ceremony will take place on July 28 and closing ceremony on August 8, with the Athletics and Para-athletics being staged from August 2-7.
The stadium has already had some test runs including the UK Midlands Army Athletics Championships. Once the Games have passed, the temporary overlay will be removed, leaving the stadium with 18,000 seats and the venue will then be put to use for the local community in sport, health, wellbeing and community activity.
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The newlook 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.”
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has also supported Birmingham 2022 with new transport infrastructure, skills training for local people and travel support with the help of Transport for West Midlands.
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.”