Organisers of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have revealed that “huge” progress has been made on the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium, which will serve as the main host venue for the event.
The stadium is being completely redeveloped ahead of the Games, which will take place in the English city from July 28 to August 8 next year. The venue will host the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletics competitions.
Birmingham 2022 confirmed today (Tuesday) that the roof liners on the new stand have been finished, with pre-cast terracing and the metal decked concrete floors for the new West Stand having been completed. The feature steps for the northern plaza have also been installed.
The £72m (€83.6m/$101.4m) project is on budget and on schedule to be completed next spring. The project had initially been due to finish by the end of the year but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the completion date back to April 2022, just three months before the start of the Games.
The work will see the stadium’s capacity permanently increase from 12,700 to 18,000, with temporary seating for up to 40,000 spectators during major events. The project will see a new western stand replace the Main, Knowles and Nelson stands, with new tiered seating to the north and south also being added along with a new 400m, six-lane warm-up track and a re-laid World Athletics Category 1 track.
An update on the stadium project has been provided today as the full event schedule and ticket details for the Games were released. Head to our sister site TheTicketingBusiness.com for more details on the ticket ballot scheme.
The Alexander Stadium project is being overseen by Birmingham City Council, whose leader Ian Ward said: “The Alexander Stadium redevelopment is progressing at a lightning speed, with the roof of the new West Stand now complete. Once finished the Alexander Stadium will be truly befitting for the world’s best track and field athletes and as a bold centrepiece of leisure, health and well-being activity in a regenerated Perry Barr.”
The stadium work will form part of a wider £500m investment in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham over the coming years. Plans also include new housing, improved transport and related upgrades to infrastructure and public space.
After the Games, Alexander Stadium will serve as the home of the Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club, as well as Birmingham City University’s sports and exercise students.
Images: Birmingham 2022/Lensi Photography
Share this