The Black Country venues ignored in Birmingham's Commonwealth Games bid
From Premier League football stadiums to stunning backdrops – the Black Country has a wealth of venues that could play host to the Commonwealth Games.
Just as Horse Guards Parade and Greenwich Park made for picturesque locations in the London 2012 Olympics, where else would be better for the beach volleyball or archery than Dudley Castle?
The ruins – which date back to the 11th Century – would offer a spectacular setting steeped in our region's history, should a Birmingham-West Midlands bid be successful for 2022?
Similarly, Rugby 7s is one of 10 'core sports' which will definitely feature in the Games.
In the Black Country, we have three stadiums capable of hosting this event – Molineux with a capacity of 31,700, the 26,850-seat Hawthorns, and the Banks's Stadium which can hold 11,300 people.
All three have quick, easy and convenient public transport links.
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As it stands, just Sandwell out of the four Black Country boroughs is set to be part of the bid with a £24 million new aquatics centre – which could include a 50m pool.
The Aldersley Leisure Village and stadium site in Wolverhampton could also host a range of events.
It has hockey pitches, an athletics track, and a velodrome.
The West Midlands Regional Shooting Centre is also based there.
COMMENT: Come on Brum, play the Game
Meanwhile facilities such as The Dell Stadium in Brierley Hill and Manor Abbey Stadium in Halesowen are capable of being good venues for training or team bases.
With investment they would be capable of hosting some of the main events – particularly track cycling.
Weightlifting could also take place Wolverhampton Civic Hall or even in the exhibition space at Wolverhampton Racecourse.
And mountain biking could be based at Sandwell Valley Park.
Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr – home to UK Athletics has been chosen to host the athletics as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
It's capacity will be increased to around 50,000 for the Commonwealth Games – up from 12,700.
It will then revert to a permanent 25,000 capacity following the Games.
Coventry's Ricoh Arena has been touted as a possible venue for netball, while boxing, table tennis, judo and wrestling is set to take place at the NEC. And the Genting Arena has been lined up for badminton.
Weightlifting will take place at Symphony Hall in Birmingham city centre, gymnastics at the NIA – now known as the Barclaycard Arena.
And Villa Park is believed to be the favourite to host the Rugby 7s. Rugby World Cup matches were held at the stadium in 2015.
