Jude Bellingham Helps Birmingham City Unveil Staggering 'Chimney' Stadium Plans

The first pictures of Birmingham City's new 62,000-capacity stadium have emerged, with Jude Bellingham giving his reaction to the structure that features twelve chimney-form towers.

It has been described as a momentous day in the club's history. On Thursday afternoon, those behind the scenes at Birmingham unveiled a stadium design that will sit in the proposed $3 billion sports quarter development in the city.

Located in Bordesley Green in East Birmingham, the venue – which is being called the "Powerhouse Stadium" – will become a major new city landmark that "reflects the region’s industrial heritage while embracing cutting-edge engineering."

As seen in the pictures below, the design features a retractable roof and moveable pitch, enabling year-round flexibility for major sporting events and international music concerts.

It is said the steep bowl is designed to create "the most intense matchday moments", with its design pulling the stands as close to the pitch as can be allowed to create a 360-degree wall of fans.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, whose number 22 shirt was retired when he left Birmingham as a teenager, was part of the unveiling video. Like many others, he was left stunned by the plans.

Perhaps the biggest talking point amongst fans has been the twelve chimney-form towers that once sat on the site. They will provide structural support for the roof while accommodating lifts and staircases.

In fact, one of the chimneys will include a lift to Birmingham’s highest bar.

Here's how fans on social media reacted to the stadium plans.

One said: "I’m a Villa fan but that is absolutely out of this world - fair play, can’t wait to see the finished product," while another commented: "Wasn't sure about the chimneys at first but after watching this it looks unreal, modern but not soulless, up the knighthead."

A third wrote: "It’s absolutely stunning, unlike any stadium on the planet. It’s beyond anything I imagined, and I think those chimneys are going to become iconic. Proud."

A fourth said: "I like it but not sure about the chimneys, maybe once it’s built it’ll change my perspective but absolute cinema," and a fifth added: "Love the chimneys, don’t know why people moaning, it’s our history."

Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner has given his thoughts on the project.

“This is a huge milestone for Birmingham City Football Club, creating a home for the club that reflects our ambition to compete at the highest level. More than that, the iconic design is a statement of intent for the City of Birmingham and the West Midlands, testament to a region that is on the rise," he said.

"The stadium draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands – a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth. I believe those same qualities can create a new era of success on and off the field and prosperity for local communities that have been starved of opportunities for too long."

Thomas Heatherwick, who is the founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, also commented on its design.

“Too often, stadiums feel like spaceships that could have landed anywhere, sterilising the surrounding area. This stadium grows from Birmingham itself – from its brickworks, its thousand trades, and the craft at its core," he said.

Heatherwick added: “It's also a wholehearted place for the community. The stadium will truly come alive where it meets the ground; a place for play, gathering, and everyday life. The goal is to capture the spirit of the city and give it back to Birmingham.”

The club say its ambition is for the new stadium to be completed in time for the start of the 2030-31 season.