New £1.7m indoor athletics track secures top class events in Birmingham
The city will be host to both the UK Athletics Indoor Championships and Indoor Grand Prix events annually until February 2032.
Last updated 18th Feb 2023
A new athletics track unveiled at the Utilita Arena Birmingham is set to host its first event this weekend in the shape of the British Indoor Championships.
The track replaces the original, used at the city centre venue since its opening in 1991 – with the £1.7million investment by Birmingham City Council helping to secure a ten-year event partnership with UK Athletics.
Under the terms of the deal, the city will be host to both the UK Athletics Indoor Championships and Indoor Grand Prix events annually until February 2032.
At this weekend’s first event (February 18-19), athletes will be competing for GB & NI team places for the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul (March 2-5).
And just a week later, the Birmingham Indoor World Tour Final 2023 (aka Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham) – featuring some of the best athletes in the world – will be staged on February 25.
In addition, a programme of community activity is also being developed to ensure the facility is maximised during the times it is in situ at Utilita Arena Birmingham.
For 2023, the programme includes a day for Birmingham Children’s Trust and Sport Birmingham, during which children, families and carers will take part in a range of sporting taster sessions on the track.
The council has also worked Birchfield Harriers to enable members of the athletics club use the facilities for training sessions, without which they would have to travel 70 miles to use a banked track.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This investment in a new track underlines our commitment to major events in Birmingham as part of the city’s Golden Decade of opportunity.
“The benefits of hosting such events is clear – both for the local economy and residents. We’ve made every effort to ensure there is a community benefit from our purchasing power and the events we stage. This is a great example of what we are doing in order to achieve this.
“As a city that loves its sport, we’re all looking forward to the first events to use the new indoor track and how this partnership develops and supports our communities.”
Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, said: “We’re delighted that the UK Athletics Indoor Championships will be the first event to benefit from this state-of-the-art new indoor Mondo track. This is a fantastic arena and the sport has been privileged to host the best athletes in the world here year after year.
“The investment in this new track shows how important athletics is to Birmingham and I can’t wait to see it in action this weekend as well as during next week’s World Indoor Tour Final.”
Hannah England, former GB & NI middle-distance athlete and World Championships silver medallist, who lives in Birmingham, said: “It is so exciting to see the new track installed ahead of this weekend! As an athlete I loved the indoor season and competing here in Birmingham was always a thrill as this is a great arena for athletics.
“Living here in Birmingham I have seen first-hand the huge investment in the athletics facilities and it is brilliant to see such a strong legacy for the sport following the Commonwealth Games.”
Guy Dunstan, Managing Director of NEC Group Ticketing & Arenas added: “Birmingham has become synonymous with sport, and this track investment is only going to solidify our position further as the home of indoor athletics. A great addition to the world-class facilities we offer athletes and visitors at the Arena.”