Blues owners in talks to buy Birmingham Phoenix stake
The owners of Birmingham City Football Club have entered into exclusive talks to buy a minority stake in cricket franchise Birmingham Phoenix.
Warwickshire County Cricket Club yesterday formally announced Knighthead Capital Management LLC as the preferred private investor for a minority stake in the Phoenix franchise, which plays in The Hundred domestic cricket tournament.
WCCC said Knighthead was chosen to move forward with exclusive negotiations following a “competitive bidding round involving multiple international businesses and individuals”.
The New York-based firm will now enter an eight-week exclusivity period with the club and the ECB to finalize legal agreements.
Subject to completion, Knighthead will acquire a 49 per cent minority ownership stake in Birmingham Phoenix.
Knighthead has a controlling stake in Birmingham City and has ambitious plans to develop a sports quarter in the city.
Warwickshire CCC chief executive Stuart Cain said: “Throughout the process Knighthead demonstrated a strong financial commitment and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate high-performance sport.
“They have far-reaching global influence that will help us promote Birmingham Phoenix to cricket and sport fans around the world and a wealth of sports investment experience.
“We’d said at the start of this process that we wanted an investor committed to invest in the region and be with us for the long term, to make a real difference.
“I believe we’ve found that in Knighthead and we look forward to working with them during this exclusivity period.”
Knighthead co-founder Tom Wagner, who is also chairman of Birmingham City, said, “The Hundred represents a significant growth opportunity, and we look forward to providing our resources and expertise to enhance Birmingham’s status as a world-class sporting destination.”
Birmingham Phoenix has built a diverse and engaged fan base, with nearly a quarter of attendees at Edgbaston under the age of 16.
Additionally, nearly a third of its fans are women, and the club boasts one of the most ethnically diverse crowds in English cricket.
Through The Hundred’s community initiatives, Birmingham Phoenix has also connected with thousands of people and schoolchildren across the region, reinforcing its role as a central pillar of Birmingham’s sports culture.
Birmingham Phoenix’s 2025 campaign gets underway this summer with one of the biggest games in The Hundred fixture schedule – a fiercely fought derby against local rivals Trent Rockets.
The men’s and women’s sides will meet at Edgbaston on 8 August for a Friday night double header under the lights.
It’s the first of four home games for the Phoenix, followed by the visit of Oval Invincibles on Tuesday 12 August, London Spirit on Sunday 17 August, and Welsh Fire on Friday 22 August.
