BIRMINGHAM, UK (CelebrityAccess) — Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium is in line for £70m worth of upgrades and refurbishment, before it hosts the opening of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
According to the BBC, the investment will allow the venerable stadium to greatly expand its capacity from its current 12,700 to 40,000 for the purposes of the opening ceremony, with a permanent capacity of 20,000 fans.
The expansion, when complete, will make the Alexander the UK’s largest permanent sports facility outside of the greater London metropolitan area.
Other planned upgrades include a new community sports facilities, a permanent warm-up track and a new conference meeting space, the BBC reported.
“Birmingham’s dynamism, diversity and ambition capture exactly what it is to be part of the Commonwealth and I’m sure that in four years’ time, the people of this city will host an incredible event which showcases the very best of Britain to the world,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said during a visit to the stadium on Wednesday.
The stadium is more than 40 years old and it currently serves as the administrative home for UK Athletics, the national governing body for sporting and athletic events in the U.K.
Birmingham was recently selected as the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which are expected to take place between 27 July and 7 August 2022.
