Former Premier League stadium given bizarre new name and fans LOVE it as they predict ‘proper comeback’

10 months ago 64

BIRMINGHAM CITY have announced a new name for their stadium.

The ground, currently called St Andrew’s, will now get a new name thanks to a multi-million pound naming agreement.

The club have announced they will be re-naming the stadium as St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

The club have agreed the naming rights with their co-owners Shelby Companies Ltd, which is majority owned by Knighthead Annuity and Life Insurance company.

The company – known collectively as Knighthead – bought a controlling stake in the club last year and have now expanded their relationship with Birmingham by announcing the new deal.

The agreement will see not only the name of the stadium changed but also the training ground.

The Birmingham training ground will now be known as the “The Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds.”

While the deal also includes a “fan entertainment zone” which will be built on club property for fans to enjoy.

All three changes are expected to be competed by the end of the current Championship season.

And the club have announced that Kingthead Park is just the “first step” in a plan to built a “sports quarter” in the heart of Birmingham in the future.

Fans are encouraged by the partnership which will see almost £10m per year paid to the club for every full year of the deal.

Some took to social media to share their opinions, with one writing: “Birmingham City have just entered ‘serious club’ territory.”

A second added: “Feels like we could become a proper comeback story.”

While another wrote: “This is fantastic news. Owners on another level and us the fans, the club and the city itself are lucky to have them. Good times are coming…”

And a fourth posted: “Absolutely great news somebody pinch me.”

Birmingham also announced that Knighthead would be donating £100,000 per year to the Birmingham City Football Club Foundation from the 2024/25 season onwards.

The club have seen things change massively since the original investment from the group in July last year.

Knighthead’s investors include NFL legend Tom Brady who has made himself known around the club and shown up to support the Blues on multiple occasions.

However things on the pitch haven’t quite been following suit.

Birmingham sacked manager John Eustace earlier this season to bring in Wayne Rooney as the new gaffer.

But the former Manchester United icon’s spell in charge was absolutely disastrous.

Rooney’s side won just two of his 15 games as gaffer and the 38-year-old was sacked after just 84 days in the dugout.

The club now face an uphill battle to avoid an exit from the Championship as they flirt with the relegation zone in 20th place with new manager Tony Mowbray at the helm.