Opinion CHAMBER
The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
LINK
Editor’s View
By John Lamb
Sport now plays such a big part in business
Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce
We make no apologies for being a bit heavy on sport in this issue. If we needed any excuses, you might forgive us when you consider that sport is worth an estimated $2.1bn-plus in the West Midlands. This is the latest figure I can find and it relates
Greater Birmingham
Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce
to a report produced in 2008. So we can assume it’s worth a bit more today. Much of it is good news and, of course, and
Front cover: Sir Geoff Hurst, Doug Wright and Paul Faulkner See page 7
Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144064
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Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3238, 0797 1144052
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Reporter Jessica Brookes 0750 8317356
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birmingham-chamber.com
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the big winner is Edgbaston Stadium. Birmingham’s jewel in the crown has confirmed that demand for general admission tickets for next year’s Vitality Blast Finals Day has never been greater in the 17-year history of the tournament.
‘Consumer spending in the West Midlands on sports-related events continues to boost the economy of the whole region’
Published by The Finals Day is part of Edgbaston’s seven-
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4 CHAMBERLINK November 2019
day programme of major match cricket in 2020, which includes the second match of England’s Test series with West Indies from Friday 12 June and the One-Day international versus Ireland on Saturday 12 September. The success of matches at Edgbaston this year, including the first Ashes Test against
Australia, contributed enormously to the economic success of the city with the stadium packed for five days. There were many other sporting events which
brought thousands of people into Birmingham, not the least of which was soccer and even tennis at Edgbaston Priory and athletics at the Alexander Stadium played their part. And we can look forward to a new Alexander
Stadium emerging as it prepares for to stage the main event in the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Sport is vital for all elements of business in Birmingham and beyond. Ricoh Arena, with its easy access to the city, is another vital element with Wasps Premiership rugby matches also drawing their spectators into the city. Consumer spending in the West Midlands on
sports-related events continues to boost the economy of the whole region and, of course, the number of people employed in sports continues to grow. Sports and business and are now inextricably
linked. And that was underlined when Vodafone opened a business lounge at Ricoh Arena. This is more than just a place to have a meal and a drink with businesses having access to digital expertise and an opportunity to experience the latest game-changing technologies. The lounge will provide an opportunity for
businesses to collaborate and innovate and to experience technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) and high-speed fibre. The move is part of Vodafone’s commitment to creating technology centres across the UK.
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