Game-changing!
If you want to go for gold with your next sports event, you need experts on your side.
Athletes can focus on being top of their game when they perform at University of Birmingham’s state-of-the-art sports facilities. Combined with 250 acres of green space, 4-star accommodation, catering, and a team of on-site event experts, this is the perfect location for sports events and conferences.
Hit the ground running
We’re here to do all the heavy lifting for you. From event planning and budget management to delivery and specialised AV support, our specialist team can take care of the details to ensure your event delivers.
There’s no need to worry about finding athlete accommodation close to your training or competition venue – or several locations to host a multi-sessional sports conference – because everything you need is right here on campus.
- A state-of-the-art Sport & Fitness centre, complete with 50m swimming pool, sauna, gym and more.
- FIH-standard hockey pitches, glass-backed squash courts and 400m athletics track.
- Village-style accommodation and bedrooms ideal for sports groups and residentials.
- Food and drink outlets to fuel success, including bespoke event menus designed by a team of chefs with athlete nutrition in mind.
- Unique venues for everything from award ceremonies and VIP dinners to training camps and major competitions.
University train station is just a 10-minute walk from the centre of campus too, making it easy for spectators, athletes, and delegates to travel to our venues from all over the UK and beyond.
Ready to deliver a sports event with impact? Get in touch today.
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Your specialists
When you host your event at the University of Birmingham, you’ll be supported by a dedicated sporting events team: Tom Clift, Head of Commonwealth Games Project Delivery; Leanne Drury, Project and Events Manager (Major Sports Events) and Director of Sport Andy Alford.
They have been getting campus ready for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which – from 28 July to 8 August – will see:
- Welcoming up to 190,000 spectators to campus
- Making 3,600 athletes and officials feel at home
- Fuelling success with 195,000 athlete meals
With Birmingham 2022 under their belts, rest assured that your event will be in safe hands with them.
We spoke to them to find out more.
What’s the secret to a knock-out sports event?
Tom: “Understanding your audience – their emotions and how to engage them – and knowing what you want to deliver. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how many hours of planning have gone into your event; it’ll fall flat if it doesn’t resonate. Great planning and iconic venues help make events magical, but people should always be at the heart.
“Mega events like the Commonwealth Games take a monumental team effort to deliver, and we’re proud to be working with such great people across the University, West Midlands Police, the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, and more to help bring the Games to life in Birmingham.”
What event are you most looking forward to leading on in the future?
Tom: “The University of Birmingham is proud to be hosting the ISBA (International Blind Sport Federation) World Games 2023 next August, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, UK Sport, and many others. More than 1,250 blind and visually impaired athletes will compete across Birmingham, a first for any UK city.
“We’re delighted to be providing the accessible sports facilities that the ISBA need to host such an event (which are often hard to come by) and look forward to better understanding the needs and challenges of the blind and visually impaired community to ensure sport is for everyone.”
What’s been the pinnacle of your career so far?
Tom: “Birmingham 2022 will be! But until my work on the Games is complete, it has to be London 2012. For more than six years, I worked with multiple partners across Coventry and Warwickshire to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to life in the region so everyone could have their Olympic moment. It was a dream to be a part of the largest event in the world, and I couldn’t be prouder that Coventry was recognised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for being the region outside of London to secure the most benefits from the Games.
“Hosting Olympic football matches, two days of the Olympic Torch Relay, a plethora of local community projects, and live site big screens in the city centre, really put Coventry and the West Midlands on the map. It was incredible. Special events create special memories. I can’t wait to add Birmingham 2022 to my collection and show off what we can do for other sports organisations in the future.”
What does working on Birmingham 2022 mean to you?
Leanne: “It means so much! Sport is such a great tool for bringing people together in a positive way, so to be able to help facilitate that feels amazing. Just feeling the buzz of excitement in the lead up to the Games has made me feel incredibly proud to be here and part of it all – it makes all the work that goes into delivering such a major event worthwhile.
“It’s a game-changer for us. It will show the world what we’re capable of and we look forward to hosting more large tournaments in the future.”
Considering University of Birmingham for your next big sporting tournament? Tom, Leanne and the rest of the Conferences & Events team are keen to meet you.
