Birmingham City has a limited amount of time to succeed at their historic stadium because St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park has an expiration date.

Since 1906, the Blues have called the place where they play football home. However, it is unlikely that the ground will reach its 125th anniversary before the Blues depart it due to Tom Wagner and Knighthead’s intentions to construct a new “Sports Quarter” in the city’s east.

The Sports Quarter, which will be located at the former Birmingham Wheels property that Knighthead purchased for £51 million six months ago, is expected to open in 2029. They intend to construct new facilities for the academy and first team to train at in addition to a brand-new stadium.

It will be more than just a sports environment. Additionally, the plans call for the creation of social hubs, offices, and restaurants.

Wagner, the Birmingham chairman, has emphasised the necessity of better transport connections to the part of the city where the Sports Quarter would be constructed in order for the massive £2–3 billion project to proceed. The chairman’s intentions might be derailed if this doesn’t occur.

Therefore, the plan is to replace the old with the new. What do people think of the old, though? Well, we get a decent notion from the ground’s TripAdvisor reviews.

How St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park rates on Tripadvisor

Ninety-one of the 184 reviews on the rating and reviewing services website rated St Andrew’s an exceptional rating, with an average score of four out of five.

One reviewer, who is a Blue, adores visiting their home field. “My family and I have been going to the Blues for years, and ever since Tom Wagner and his team took over, it has become a completely different place,” they recently stated.

“There are many amenities, like indoor bars, outdoor fan parks, and street food, and the atmosphere is great. The games are amazing to see, and the football is now at a new level. There is something for everyone, so I suggest it to people of all ages.

As evidenced by this Plymouth Argyle fan’s observations of the stadium in August 2023, St Andrew’s even makes an impression on visiting fans. “The away end is behind the goal, which is usually fantastic, and the pitch is a tremendous size. The atmosphere at home was fine, but it might be better.

There is no assurance that everyone will be satisfied, even though the place has received overwhelmingly excellent evaluations. The condition of the ground astounded one reviewer, who posted this comment in December of last year. To be fair to Birmingham, this study was conducted prior to the significant renovation of St Andrew’s hospitality facilities.

They remarked, “Very disappointing,” “You couldn’t see the pitch from the seats we sold on the front view. With players being yelled at and nothing being done, the stewards were of little service. No chance to purchase food or beverages. A really shameful way to handle fans.

Leaving St Andrew’s will be a sad time for many Birmingham fans

 

Birmingham will benefit from moving to a new stadium and the additional revenue it will bring, but many who have been sitting in the same seats in the same stands for many years will be saddened.