Alexander Stadium business legacy plan push

Article posted by Coliseum, February 11^th, 2025

Image: Avison Young

The global commercial real estate firm Avison Young has been appointed as the Property Manager for the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham (UK).

‘AVISON YOUNG’ stated that following the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 the Birmingham City Council is now focused on enhancing the facility as part of its legacy business plan and the ongoing development program.

Toronto (Canada)-based Avison Young creates real economic, social and environmental value as a global real estate advisor powered by the people. As a private company its clients collaborate with an empowered partner who is invested in their success. The firm’s integrated talent realizes the full potential of real estate by using the global intelligence platforms that provide the clients with insights and advantage. Together, they can create healthy, productive workplaces for the employees, the Cities that are the centers for prosperity for their citizens and built spaces and places that create a net benefit to the economy, the environment and the community.

Avison Young is a 2022 winner of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation having retained its Best Managed designation for 11 consecutive years.

The Alexander Stadium is an athletics stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham (UK). It is the largest athletics stadium in the United Kingdom. The stadium has four stands with a total seated capacity of 18,000.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022, was an international multisport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations that took place in Birmingham, England (UK) between July 28^th and August 8^th, 2022.

The Birmingham City Council is the local authority for the City of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England (UK). Birmingham has had an elected local authority since 1838 which has been reformed several times. Since 1974, the Council has been a Metropolitan Borough Council. It provides the majority of local Government services in the City.

‘AVISON YOUNG’ further stated that a £72 million investment was made to upgrade the stadium for the Commonwealth Games followed by a series of further enhancements to support the community and legacy business plan. The stadium’s transformation includes the creation of commercial function spaces in the new West Stand, flagship sporting facilities and tenanted areas in the West and East Stands.

In 2024, the Birmingham City University (BCU – a public university in Birmingham, England) relocated its sport and exercise Science campus to the stadium using its own capital funding to fit out the spaces. The move included repurposing the areas beneath the East and the West grandstand seating which has now already been established as office and teaching spaces.

The development has created two multi-let commercial buildings that stand on their own exclusive estate. The current occupiers in the stadium include the Birchfield Harriers (athletics club), the Corporate Sporting Events (CSE – a company that manages events at the Alexander Stadium and at the other venues in the United Kingdom, Europe and internationally), the UK Athletics (the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom), and the Birmingham City University.

The world-class stadium now stands as a state-of-the-art regional hub for the sporting events, higher education, corporate events, community activities, and business engagement.

Avison Young has been appointed to provide expert guidance in establishing an appropriate and transparent management framework for a service charge strategy that aligns with the unique characteristics of the complex.

The firm will provide surveying and accounting services to effectively manage landlord and tenant relationships and ensure a first-class experience for the occupiers and their visitors to the Alexander Stadium.

The appointment represents an extension of the work Avison Young is already undertaking for the Birmingham City Council across a range of other commercial assets.

Remarked Guy Thompson, Principal at Avison Young UK, “We are proud to be involved in supporting the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and contributing to the long-term success and evolution of the Alexander Stadium. This distinctive asset presents an exciting and unconventional challenge that aligns perfectly with our expertise in bespoke property management solutions. We are committed to maximizing the value of the investment and enhancing the stadium’s role as a key asset for the City and the wider region.”

Commented Councilor Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at the Birmingham City Council, “Collaborating with Avison Young will be instrumental in enhancing the relationships with our partners based at the Alexander Stadium. Their expertise in bespoke property management makes them an ideal partner to help us unlock the full potential of the stadium. We are excited to see how this partnership will maximize the benefits of the significant investment made and support the stadium’s continued success as a cornerstone of the City’s sporting legacy.”

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