Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield has shared his excitement about the club's proposed new stadium, expressing his personal ambition to be part of the team that inaugurates the colossal ground.
Stansfield's Stadium Dream and Watford Focus
The 23-year-old forward, who is Blues' top scorer this season with eight Championship goals, made his comments ahead of the team's fixture against Watford at St Andrew's @Knighthead Park this evening. His interview comes just days after owner Tom Wagner revealed the striking designs for the new arena.
Nicknamed 'The Powerhouse' and featuring twelve distinctive chimneys, the planned stadium will be the centrepiece of a massive £3 billion Sports Quarter development in Bordesley Green. The club is targeting the 2030/31 season for its completion, by which time everyone at Birmingham hopes to be celebrating a return to the Premier League.
The Powerhouse: A Game-Changer for Club and City
Speaking to Sky Sports, Stansfield highlighted the incredible atmosphere generated by the current 28,000 weekly attendees at St Andrew's. He believes the proposed 62,000-capacity venue will take that passion to another level.
"The noise at St Andrew's is special," Stansfield said. "To think we could have an even bigger stadium with more fans is exciting. I can't wait to walk out in front of everyone in a huge new ground. It will be great for the city and community, not just the football."
The player, who would be 28 when the stadium is slated to open, is tied to the club on a long-term deal, having signed a seven-year contract after making his initial loan move permanent.
Building Momentum On and Off the Pitch
Stansfield, who has already made 109 appearances and scored 45 goals for Blues, acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the club's ambitious project. He emphasised the squad's focus on consistent performance as they adapt to life in the Championship.
"There's a lot of expectation around the club at the moment, so for us it's about going out, doing our best and playing our football," he stated. "We're finding our feet now and clicking together as a team... The club is moving in the right direction and it's a privilege to wear the badge every week."
He also praised the club's infrastructure, noting that the top-level facilities help bring the best out of the players, and confirmed that the project laid out to him when he joined is being delivered in full.
