GROUNDS FOR A NEW STADIUM

26-07-2007

The Stirrer can reveal that Aston Villa are talking to a major pop promoter about bringing stadium gigs back to the region - but with Liverpool FC having announced plans for a new 60,000 ground isn't it time the West Midlands had something similar?

Villa are having discussions with Clear Channel, one of the world’s largest media groups who organise concerts, run radio stations and own advertising billboards.

The club are keen to attract major shows to the region and are aware of the major financial benefits it can bring - more than £400,000 profit was generated from last month’s performances at the City of Manchester stadium by George Michael and Rod Stewart.

There is a downside tough - our source said that the pitch due to be used by Manchester City for the forthcoming Premier League season had been “wrecked” - and that’s why Villa Park bigwigs are being cautious.

Although most of our local footy clubs have staged concerts at one time or another (Bon Jovi at Wolves, The Wonderstuff at Bescot, UB40 at the Blues) it’s Villa who’ve been leaders in the field.

Barry White, Rod Stewart and Bruce Springsteen have all played there, and the club are keen to build on this impressive heritage.

Good for them - but it does beg the question of why the West Midlands doesn’t have a purpose-built stadium worthy of our status as a major European city.

Villa Park is a decent enough ground for major football matches, but its 40,000 capacity is starting to look rather modest.

With Manchester now having two major stadiums and Liverpool getting in on the act, there’s undeniably a sense that we are being left behind. More and more major tours are starting to pass us by.

The late lamented Ken Hardeman recognised this of course.

Birmingham’s recently deceased regeneration chief saw the potential of the Wheels site, identified by Blues as the ideal site for their new stadium and supercasino.

Even when the casino bid failed, Ken kept alive the dream of a major ground.

On the day that he’s buried there could be no greater tribute to this fine man that asking - who now has the vision and determination to give the Greater Birmingham area the stadium it deserves?

Does the West Midlands need a new stadium with a 60,000 capacity? Leave a comment on our Message Board.