Birmingham City FC team up with OVG

Article posted by Coliseum, January 17^th, 2024

Image: Birmingham City FC

Birmingham City Football Club has agreed a multi-year partnership with Oak View Group (OVG) as it looks to maximise the commercial value of St. Andrew’s Stadium and the club’s training grounds.

Leading global sports and entertainment company OVG will work with the Club to develop a long-term strategy for the commercial development of the club.

The club said the pair would create a new commercial framework for future infrastructure projects that the club’s owner Knighthead Capital Management is committed to delivering; and be responsible for driving additional relationships with global partners who want to be part of the exciting journey the Club has embarked upon.

Americans Knighthead want to increase revenue streams and are open to the idea of staging non-football events in the stadium.

Birmingham City Football Club is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England (UK). Formed in 1875 as the Small Heath Alliance, it was renamed Small Heath in 1888, Birmingham in 1905, and Birmingham City in 1943. Since 2011, the first team have competed in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football.

The 29,409-capacity St Andrew’s stadium is in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England (UK). It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century.

From 2018 to 2021, it was known for sponsorship reasons as the St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium.

Birmingham City Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said, “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.

“OVG has a track record that is second to none, especially in maximising 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.”

OVG Chairman and Founder, Tim Leiweke, 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.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham City has announced the departure of Managing Director Ian Dutton, who decided to step down after a 17-year stint with the club. Dutton, who rose through the ranks of the club’s commercial department, took on the role of managing director in February 2022.

A club statement expressed gratitude for Dutton’s service, stating: “After 17 years of loyal and dedicated service, Ian Dutton has decided to leave Birmingham City. He has helped steer the club during some extremely challenging and adverse periods, for which everyone associated with Birmingham City will always be very grateful.”

The club has opted not to appoint a direct replacement for Dutton. Instead, his responsibilities will be divided among chief executive Garry Cook and other members of the club’s leadership team. Dutton is set to leave the club in the coming months.

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