BIRMINGHAM, UK (CelebrityAccess) — Birmingham City Football Club announced the formation of a new multi-year partnership with venue management and consultancy Oak View Group Europe.
The partnership will see the Club work with OVG to maximize the commercial value of the St. Andrews Stadium and the Club’s training grounds, as well as to begin planning for new infrastructure projects that the Club’s owner Knighthead Capital Management LLC intends to support.
Following Knighthead Capital’s acquisition of the team in 2023, BCFC came close to completing a round of upgrades for the venerable St Andrew’s, which has served as the team’s home pitch for more than a century. The upgrades included stabilization of seating areas, which had been deemed unsafe in 2020 and forced the team to play in front of reduced crowds, along with a new turf surface and a jumbotron.
“It is very important for Birmingham City to join with ambitious businesses who align with the ambition of the club. Our long-term goals are unprecedented, and we are pleased to attract the global expertise OVG can bring to the club,” stated Birmingham City Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook.
“OVG has a track record that is second to none, especially in maximizing naming rights and ancillary benefits for existing stadiums and new builds. This will be a significant asset for Blues. Revenues generated by OVG will be invested directly back into the Club, supporting our drive to become world class across everything that we do,” Cook added.
“Currently, OVG is developing Co-op Live, the most sophisticated international Arena ever built in the U.K., and the most expensive outside of the U.S. And we seek to work with other like-minded, entrepreneurial partners. Clearly, Birmingham City and their vision for the Club and Stadium are world class and highly ambitious. We are excited and focused on helping Tom Wagner and Garry Cook deliver on their vision and commitment to Birmingham.”
