Birmingham, with NFL legend Tom Brady among their investors, have been informed of the only way that they could fill a 62,000-seater stadium.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues are drawing up ambitious plans under American ownership. They are currently languishing in League One – alongside Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Wrexham – but are closing in on the third tier title and an immediate return to the Championship.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With the intention being to grace the Premier League again at some stage, it has been revealed that Birmingham are hoping to move into a new home – with a £3 billion project including a venue that will hold over 60,000 fans.
WHAT LEE HENDRIE SAID
West Midlands native Lee Hendrie, who graced the Premier League himself with Aston Villa, has told Football League World of whether Brady and Co are dreaming too big: “Will they fill it? That’s a massive question.
“They’re still in League One at this moment in time, and yes, they’ve been getting the gates you’d certainly think they would do, particularly when the board is injecting money to bring players in to make them have the understanding that they’re going to have a platform going forward. There’s no doubt they’ll get promoted to the Championship, and I’m pretty sure they’ll invest again because they’ll want to get back-to-back promotions.
“If they do get to the Premier League, that’s when you’re talking about if they’ll fill a 62,000-seater stadium. It’s difficult, the only way that you’ll fill a stadium with that capacity is by being successful.
“They’ve got energetic, successful people behind the scenes that will want to take the club forward. I’m pretty sure if they get into the Premier League, they’ll invest to stay there, and that’s the only way they’ll fill a stadium of that capacity.”
WHAT NEXT FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY?
Birmingham’s current home at St Andrew’s holds just under 30,000 spectators. They would be doubling that capacity when building their new ground, with it clear that success on the field would be required in order to pack that out and deliver on the expectations of those calling shots in the boardroom.
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