The regenerated Alexander Stadium at the end of May 2022

I had previously tried to see the Alexander Stadium in early January 2022, but didn't have good views. This time, end of May 2022, I walked up the Aldridge Road in Perry Park to Perry Park. And got views from the park, Perry Reservoir, Tame Valley Canal and Walsall Road. Bit of a long walk. So maybe a shuttle bus is needed from Perry Barr Station in July and August 2022?

The Alexander Stadium was completed in Spring 2022 ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, due to take place for 11 days from late July to early August 2022.

You can now see the stadium from various points in Perry Park, from the Perry Reservoir, Tame Valley Canal towpath and the Walsall Road in Perry Barr.

It was around a half hour walk from Perry Barr Station (I did stop for coffee first in Costa at One Stop), via the Aldridge Road to Perry Park. Then another half hour or so down the Walsall Road back to the new look Perry Barr Station.

So the shuttle bus test they did for the Diamond League event, maybe they could do that from the station, as would be a long walk for ticket holders?

2nd January 2022

My previous attempt to get into Perry Park during 2022 was from the Walsall Road entrance. Tried to get views of Alexander Stadium over the Walsall Road Allotments, but wasn't much to see from here.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There was too many trees in the way, and I ended up not getting to the other side of Perry Park at the time, but the stadium was just about visible at the time.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

30th May 2022

A proper look at the Alexander Stadium from multiple views, starting from Perry Park.

Views from Perry Park

Trees covering the view of the stand completed in 2011, with the temporary floodlights.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The stadium looks much bigger now, or it might just be the temporary seating and floodlights that have been erected here.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The temporary seating goes quite high, this will probably be dismantled after the games end in August.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Views with Perry Reservoir

The reservoir makes for some interesting reflection shots of the new look Alexander Stadium.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Reservoir 30052022 (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The stand completed in 2011, with the temporary stands on the right, plus the temporary floodlights with the reservoir.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Most of these views were from the pedestrian diversion from Perry Park towards the Tame Valley Canal.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Some of the new seating is permenant, the rest is temporary.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Views from the Tame Valley Canal

Onto the Tame Valley Canal, the views from the towpath was better than what I saw four years earlier. They have built a training (or warm up) track to the right of the stadium.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The temporary seating over hanging from the back.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the blue warm up track near the stadium.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It looks much better than it was before we won the right to host the Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

These stands on the right are permanent, and looks amazing!

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

So many views from the canal, the temporary and permanent seating stands.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Workmen were still putting the finishing touches to the stadium. Which had a test event here about a week earlier.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Diamond League was held here on the 21st May 2022.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last view from the canal towpath, including the new permenant stands.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Views from Walsall Road

After leaving the Tame Valley Canal at the Walsall Road, I wasn't expecting to see any more views, but I got these of the Alexander Stadium entrance.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the entrance to the Alexander Stadium on Stadium Way, from the Walsall Road in Perry Barr.

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Alexander Stadium 30052022 (17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Text and photos by Elliott Brown

Be Bold Be Birmingham - the Commonwealth Games is coming to the City this summer 2022!

Be Bold Be Birmingham! The slogan for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games can be see around the City in the months running up to the event. Such as at Perry Park near the Alexander Stadium (Walsall Road) and other areas, including in the City Centre. Also a new Queen's Baton Relay mural near Birmingham New Street Station.

Be Bold Be Birmingham

At the time of this post being published, there will be around 6 months to go until the start of the Commonwealth Games, around Birmingham and the West Midlands!

Alexander Stadium, Perry Barr

The Alexander Stadium in Perry Park, at the beginning of January 2022. Seen near the Walsall Road. The hashtag is #BeBoldBeBham

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Alexander St PB 02012022 (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Victoria Square, Birmingham

Seen at the end of December 2021, the Be Bold Be Birmingham hoardings around where the Floozie in the Jacuzzi used to be (currently having the fountain repaired).

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Be Brum Floozie Vic Sq 28122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Be Brum Floozie Vic Sq 28122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen outside of the Council House during early January 2022. Normally this would be the main entrance, but it's closed while the building (and Museum & Art Gallery) get repaired (BM & AG should reopen ETA April 2022).

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBBB Council House VS 09012022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Council House was like this with Be Bold Be Birmingham at the end of September 2021.

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Be Bham BCH VS 29092021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

BM & AG and the Council House at the end of January 2022 after (or during) a jet wash (with 103 Colmore Row). They have reapplied the Be Bold Be Birmingham slogan around the black hoardings (I think they moved or changed the hoardings).

dndimg alt="Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jet wash Council House 103 CR Vic Sq 26012022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Stratford Road - Birmingham / Solihull border

Seen on the Stratford Road, leaving Birmingham (Hall Green) for Solihull (Shirley) near Tesco. If you are driving into the City up the A34, you will see "Welcome to Birmingham Proud Host City of the Commonwealth Games 2022". If you are leaving the City and entering Solihull (on your way to the M42) you will see "Thanks for Visiting Birmingham". Seen on a walk down the Stratford Road to Shirley in November 2021.

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Hall Green (Nov 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Hall Green (Nov 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

High Street, Harborne

I first spotted the Be Bold Be Birmingham signs in the summer of 2021. Such as on this council board on the High Street in Harborne, during August 2021. The same "Welcome to Birmingham Proud Host City of the Commonwealth Games 2022". It also comes up on digital billboards around the city.

dndimg alt="Be Bold Be Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Be Bold Harborne (Aug 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Queen's Baton Relay - mural by Gent 48

This mural painted by Birmingham street artist legend Gent 48, is at the corner of Hill Street and Navigation Street in Birmingham City Centre near Birmingham New Street Station. It was painted and unveiled in the middle of January 2022. The Queen's Baton Relay is going around the Commonwealth.

dndimg alt="Queens Baton Relay" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B2022 Queens Baton BNSS 18012022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Queens Baton Relay" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B2022 Queens Baton BNSS 18012022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Queens Baton Relay" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B2022 Queens Baton BNSS 18012022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Queens Baton Relay" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B2022 Queens Baton BNSS 18012022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Queens Baton Relay" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B2022 Queens Baton BNSS 18012022 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view of Gent 48's Queen's Baton Relay mural from a car park on Swallow Street, looking down Hill Street to Navigation Street and Birmingham New Street Station. Late January 2022.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSS Queens Baton mural 26012022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown