Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner has revealed that Jude Bellingham was left absolutely stunned when shown the club's ambitious plans for a spectacular new £1.2 billion stadium, with the Real Madrid superstar uttering a three-word response that said it all.
The 'Oh My God' Moment
During the promotional launch for Birmingham City's proposed new 62,000-capacity venue, Jude Bellingham was captured on camera exclaiming 'Oh my God' when presented with the full scale of the revolutionary project. The 22-year-old England international, who began his football journey at St Andrew's, featured prominently in the reveal video that has sent shockwaves through the football world.
Tom Wagner didn't hold back in his praise for the former Blues academy product, stating: "I think Jude is the greatest player on the planet today, and I think his potential is not even close...we haven't seen anywhere near his full potential yet, not just as a player on the pitch, but also what he can do for a community, what he can do as a leader."
A Spectacular Vision for the Future
The envisioned Powerhouse Stadium, situated in Bordesley Green, represents one of the most ambitious projects in English football history. Scheduled for completion in the 2030/31 campaign, the ground will feature cutting-edge technology including a retractable roof and adaptable pitch, enabling it to host everything from NFL matches to major musical performances.
The surrounding development goes far beyond just a football stadium, featuring:
- A new training facility for the men's first team
- A dedicated ground for Birmingham City Women
- Affordable housing and hotel accommodations
- Multi-purpose event spaces
Wagner acknowledged that announcing such ambitious plans while the club languishes in the Championship might make them appear like "modest lunatics", but he remains defiant about the vision reflecting their future aspirations rather than current circumstances.
Filling the Seats and Building a Legacy
When challenged about filling a 62,000-capacity venue given their present average crowds of fewer than 30,000, the American entrepreneur pointed to their Football League Trophy final appearance at Wembley last season as evidence of the club's potential support base.
"We sold 50,000 tickets for our cup final at Wembley last season, and when the phone lines closed, we had 26,000 people waiting to purchase a ticket," Wagner revealed, demonstrating the latent demand among the Blues faithful.
The chairman emphasised that the proposed stadium would be "maybe the most environmentally sound stadium that will ever be built" and would serve as a multi-purpose facility capable of hosting international football competitions, world-class concerts, boxing matches, and potentially even NFL games when bidding opportunities arise.
For Wagner, the project represents more than just bricks and mortar - it's about creating a platform that could one day welcome home the club's most famous son in what would be "a great coming home story, a great Birmingham story, a great England story."
