Football fan tunnel from Birmingham New Street to £3bn Sports Quarter plans unveiled by Blues boss

Tom Wagner, chairman of Birmingham City, has unveiled plans for a football fan tunnel connecting New Street station to the new £3bn stadium complex which he says could boost the West Midlands economy.

The chairman of Birmingham City has told Insider he wants to build a tunnel under the city to transport fans to the club’s new £3bn ‘Wembley of the Midlands’.

Tom Wagner said he would like to create an underground roadway from New Street station to the proposed Sports Quarter complex in Bordesley Park, east Birmingham.

He is due to meet government officials today (Wednesday, February 5) to ask for backing for the £20m plan.

The US hedge fund executive, who co-owns the club with NFL legend Tom Brady, revealed the plans at yesterday’s Insider West Midlands Real Estate Investment Summit.

"Subways are very expensive and complicated to develop," he said. "We thought of an idea to simply tunnel under the existing rail lines and connect New Street station to the sports quarter and use electric buses running underground. It could transport thousands of people an hour. We think it would cost roughly £20m."

The tunnel - which would be around 1.5 miles long and transport people to and from the stadium - could eventually become "part of a broader system, which would be fantastic", Wagner added, pointing out that Network Rail owns the vast majority of the land under its lines.

Wagner said that while his primary goal is for the tram network to extend to the new stadium complex, he feels the economic benefits of the tunnel scheme are compelling and need to be seriously considered.

Wagner said "local and regional authorities are in favour" of the idea, but central government needs to be convinced to provide the funding.

"I'm the 'crazy American' talking about this, but we need more local voices with the right accent talking about why this is a good idea. The funds are there nationally, and it's a tiny percentage of those funds that we’re asking for."

Wagner, co-owner of New York-based hedge funder Knighthead Capital Management, said the stadium complex, or "sports quarter", combined with the tunnel system, could bring major regeneration to a socially deprived area of the city.

The tunnel would also build on the economic benefits of HS2, the high-speed rail link originally intended to connect London and the North, which, following cost cuts, will now end at Birmingham.

Knighthead bought the League One club in 2023 and last year acquired the 48-acre Wheels site in Bordesley Park before revealing the sports quarter plans.

The scheme, which will replace the club’s existing home at St Andrew’s, is a five-year vision to create not only a 60,000-seater stadium, but training facilities, hotels, hospitality venues and an entertainment arena. The aim is for it to eventually host international matches, concerts and NFL American football games.

Knighthead has invested £100m in East Birmingham to push forward with the sports quarter project, with business secretary Jonathan Reynolds due to visit the site and learn about how it is projected to provide £370m in growth each year.

Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "The West Midlands is a powerhouse for investment, and this project will not only play a vital role in bringing thousands of new jobs into the area but will put more money into the pockets of the local community here in East Birmingham.

"Seeing global investors put billions in the UK economy shows the Plan for Change is working, with more and more companies choosing Britain. This is another vote of confidence in our plans to deliver growth that supports skilled jobs and raises living standards across the country."

The site is estimated to create 8,400 jobs annually in Birmingham while also supporting the wider city and West Midlands.

Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter

Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, added: "This investment is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and the West Midlands. It was made possible by strong partnerships with Knighthead and others committed to our region's growth.

"We've worked to create the perfect conditions to attract investment, and this will bring thousands of jobs, new opportunities, and a major economic boost.

"Working with Tom Wagner and Knighthead, we’ll unlock our region’s full potential - delivering the Sports Quarter and lasting change for the region."