View source for St Andrew's (stadium)

{{short description|Football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = St Andrew's
| former_names      = St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium (2018–2021)
| nickname          =
| image             = TiltonRoadEnd01.JPG
| image_size        = 250
| logo_image        = StAndrewsKnightheadPark.SVG
| logo_caption      = Logo since 2024
| caption           = The Tilton Road end, with the Kop to the right
| location          = [[Bordesley, Birmingham]], England
| fullname          = St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park
| coordinates       = {{coord|52|28|33|N|1|52|05|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground      = 1906
| opened            = 26 December 1906
| renovated         = 1993–1999, 2020–2023
| expanded          =
| closed            =
| demolished        =
| publictransit     = {{rail-interchange|gb|Rail}} {{rws|Bordesley}}<br />17, 60 and 97 bus routes<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Bus Routes |url=https://nxbus.co.uk/local/west-midlands/?site%5Bsearch%5D=B9+4NH&show%5Broutes%5D=1 |website=NXBUS |access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>
| owner             = Shelby Companies<!-- which is majority owned by Knighthead Annuity & Life Assurance et al --><ref name="Knighthead naming" />
| operator          = 
| surface           = SISGrass [[hybrid grass|hybrid]]<ref name=SISGrass/>
| nicknames         =
| tenants           = {{plainlist|
* [[Birmingham City F.C.]] (1906–present)
* [[Coventry City F.C.]] (2019–2021)
* [[Birmingham City W.F.C.]] (2021–present)}}
| seating_capacity  = 29,409<ref name=capacity>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/more/fans/new-to-the-ground |title=New to St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref>
| dimensions        = {{convert|100|x|66|m|yd|0}}<ref name=BCFCRecords/>
}}
'''St Andrew's''', known since 2024 for sponsorship reasons as '''St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park''', is an [[association football]] stadium in the [[Bordesley, Birmingham|Bordesley]] district of [[Birmingham]], England. It has been the home ground of [[Birmingham City Football Club]] for more than a century. From 2018 to 2021, its sponsored name was St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium.<ref name=SponsoredRename/>

Constructed and opened in 1906 to replace the [[Muntz Street]] ground, which had become too small to meet the club's needs, the original St Andrew's could hold an estimated 75,000 spectators, housed in one [[grandstand]] and a large uncovered [[terrace (stadium)|terrace]]. Between 1906 and 1939 it was reported that a lot of construction work took place inside the ground and the official capacity was set at 68,000 at the start of the 1938-39 season. The attendance record, variously recorded as 66,844 or 67,341,{{efn|name=RecordCrowd}} was set at a 1939 [[FA Cup]] tie against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. During the [[Second World War]], St Andrew's suffered bomb damage and the grandstand, housing a temporary fire station, burned down in an accidental fire.{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=45}} In the 1950s, the club replaced the stand and installed [[floodlight]]s, and later erected a second small stand and roofed over the open terraces, but there were few further changes.

The ground became dilapidated: a boy was killed when a wall collapsed during rioting in the 1980s.<ref name=Popplewell/> When new owners took the club out of [[administration (law)|administration]] in 1993, they began a six-year redevelopment programme during which the ground was converted to an [[all-seater stadium]] to comply with the [[Taylor Report]] into safety at sports grounds, and all areas apart from the Main Stand were completely rebuilt. The seating capacity of the modern stadium is 29,409. It has function rooms suitable for business or social events and a club store selling Birmingham City merchandise. A 2004 proposal that the club should sell the ground and move into a multi-purpose [[City of Birmingham Stadium]] came to nothing. In 2013, the ground was listed as an [[asset of community value]] under the [[Localism Act 2011]].

St Andrew's has been the venue for England international football matches at all levels below the [[England national football team|senior national team]], and for semifinal matches in the FA Cup and finals of lesser competitions. It was also used as [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]'s home ground for the [[2019–20 Coventry City F.C. season|2019–20]] and [[2020–21 Coventry City F.C. season|2020–21]] seasons.<ref name=CovShare/> It has played host to events in other sports, including [[rugby union]] and professional [[boxing]], and more recently has staged music concerts. It is the third largest sporting venue in the West Midlands - ahead of The Hawthorns, Alexander Stadium and Poundland Bescot Stadium but behind Villa Park and Molineux Stadium.

== History ==

=== Former grounds ===
{{Main|Muntz Street}}
Small Heath Alliance{{snd}}the original name of [[Birmingham City Football Club]]{{snd}}played their first home games on waste ground off Arthur Street, in the [[Bordesley Green]] district of Birmingham, very near the site where St Andrew's would be built.{{efn|1=At the very bottom centre of [https://web.archive.org/web/20111007080203/http://www.mapseeker.co.uk/major-british-cities/birmingham/?id=464&mapcode=J064&areaA=a4&areaB=b2 the 1883 map linked here], Muntz Street leaves the Coventry Road heading north-east, crossed by Wright Street. Gessey's field is on the south-eastern side of Muntz St, adjacent to the north-eastern side of the short part of Wright St, and with open country to the other two sides. At the centre left of the map, above the words "Small Heath", and bounded by Coventry Road, Cattell Road, Kelynge Street (since renamed Tilton Road), Garrison Lane and the railway, is the site of the future St Andrew's stadium. Lower down, parallel to and very near the left edge of the map, is Arthur Street, where Small Heath Alliance first played their matches.<ref>Map from {{cite book |title=New Ordnance Atlas of the British Isles, with large-scale plans of towns... by G.W. Bacon |publisher=George W. Bacon |location=London |year=1883}}, hosted at {{cite web |url=http://www.mapseeker.co.uk/major-british-cities/birmingham/?id=464&mapcode=J064&areaA=a4&areaB=b2 |title=Old Town Plan of Birmingham 1883 |publisher=Mapseeker Historical Maps Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007080203/http://www.mapseeker.co.uk/major-british-cities/birmingham/?id=464&mapcode=J064&areaA=a4&areaB=b2 |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>|name=1883map}} In 1876, they made a temporary move to a fenced-off field in Ladypool Road, [[Sparkbrook]], with an estimated capacity of 3,000 spectators; because the field was enclosed, admission could be charged. Interest in the team grew, and a year later they moved again, this time to a rented field in [[Small Heath, Birmingham|Small Heath]], situated on the eastern edge of Birmingham's built-up area, just north of the main road to [[Coventry]].<ref name=Stirrer>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/sb2612061.html |title=100 years of St. Andrews – Part One |last=Beauchampé |first=Steve |website=The Stirrer |date=26 December 2006 |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212213311/http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/sb2612061.html |archive-date=12 December 2008}}</ref>{{efn|name=1883map}} This ground, which became known as [[Muntz Street]], had four sides of open [[terrace (stadium)|terracing]], a small covered wooden stand, and a changing-room for the players. When first opened it could hold approximately 10,000 spectators.<ref name=Stirrer/>{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}} Over the years the height of the terracing was raised, which increased the capacity to around 30,000, but this became insufficient to cope with the demand. The attendance at a match in 1905 against local rivals [[Aston Villa]] was officially recorded as 28,000 spectators,<ref name=MailVilla>{{cite news |title=The Day's Football |work=Birmingham Daily Mail |date=25 February 1905 |page=3}}</ref> but several thousand more climbed walls or forced turnstiles to gain entry.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}}{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=44}} The landlords refused to sell the [[freehold (English law)|freehold]] of the ground, nor would they permit major extensions to be made. As the board of directors estimated that staying at Muntz Street was costing the club £2,000 a year (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|2000|1905|r=-3}}}} at today's prices),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} they began the search for an alternative site.<ref name=Stirrer/>{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=44}}

=== Construction ===
[[File:SiteOfStAndrew'sStadium.jpg|thumb|right|upright|1890 map shows wet, sloping industrial site chosen for new ground.]]
Director [[Harry Morris Sr.|Harry Morris]] identified a site for a new ground in [[Bordesley, West Midlands|Bordesley]], some three-quarters&nbsp;of a mile&nbsp;(1&nbsp;km) from Muntz Street towards the city centre. Covering an area of {{convert|7.5|acres|0}}, bounded by Cattell Road, Coventry Road, Tilton Road, Garrison Lane and the railway, and near [[St Andrew's Church, Bordesley|St Andrew's church]], the site was where a [[brickworks]] had once operated. Though Morris described the land itself as "a wilderness of stagnant water and muddy slopes",{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}} the ''Sporting Mail'' considered it "very favourably situated for obtaining easy communication with the city and many of the suburbs, and will be served by an excellent service of electric cars [trams], while the provision of a railway station close at hand is also considered as within the bounds of possibility."<ref>{{cite news |work=Sporting Mail |place=Birmingham |date=27 January 1906 |title=The Week's Gossip |last=Linesman |page=1}}</ref>

The club took the land on a 21-year lease, and entrusted the role of surveyor and engineer to a local carpenter, Harry Pumfrey, who despite a lack of qualifications produced plans "which would have done credit to the most expensive professional architect".{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=44}} Club director Thomas Turley, a builder, acted as clerk of works, and it is estimated the club saved more than £2,000 in professional fees by keeping the work in-house.{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=44}} Tradition has it that [[Names of the Romani people#Gypsy and gipsy|gypsies]], evicted from the site before work could begin, laid a 100-year&nbsp;[[curse]] on the club;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2352837/Birmingham-hope-curse-has-run-course.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2352837/Birmingham-hope-curse-has-run-course.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Birmingham hope curse has run course |last=Smith |first=Martin |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=26 December 2006 |access-date=29 June 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> although gypsies are known to have camped nearby, there is no contemporary evidence for their eviction by the club, and construction began in February 1906.<ref>{{cite book |last=Marsden |first=Bob |title=A.B.C. of Small Heath and Bordesley Green Past and Present |publisher=Small Heath Local History Society |date=March 1987 |page=44 |quote=St. Andrew's [Church] was erected in 1846, the fifth and last to be built by the Church Building Society. It was an unsuitable site, and for many years after its building, the only dwellings nearby were huts where brickworkers lived, a few cottages, and an occasional gipsy camp.}}</ref><ref name=PostOpening>{{cite news |title=Christmas Football: St. Andrew's Ground opened |work=Birmingham Daily Post |page=6 |date=27 December 1906}}</ref>

[[File:StAndrews1913Map.jpg|thumb|right|upright|1913 map shows layout of completed St Andrew's Ground.]] [[Artesian aquifer|Artesian springs]], which kept the land flooded, had to be drained and blocked off with tons of rubble before soil could be laid on top.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}} To create height for the terracing on the Coventry Road side of the ground, the club offered the site as a tip: local people paid a total of £800 (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|800|1906|r=-2}}}} today){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}for dumping an estimated 100,000 loads of rubbish.{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|pp=44–45}} This embankment was known from the beginning as the [[Spion Kop (stadia)|Spion Kop]], stood 110 terraces high at its highest point, and had a reported capacity of 48,000 spectators, each paying [[£sd|6d]] (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|0.025|1906|r=2}}}} today).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} The Grandstand, on the Garrison Lane side of the ground, was {{convert|123|yards|0}} in length. It held 6,000 seats divided among six sections, priced from [[£sd|1s&nbsp;to&nbsp;2s]] (£{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|0.05|1906|r=2}}|1}} to £{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|0.1|1906|r=2}}|1}} today),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} and all accesses were lit by electricity. In front of the stand was space for 5,000 to stand under cover.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}}<ref name=PostOpening/> Beneath the stand were refreshment rooms, changing rooms, a training area with plunge bath, a billiard room donated by brewery magnate Sir John Holder, and the club's boardroom and offices, which hitherto had been maintained in premises in Birmingham city centre.<ref name=Stirrer/>{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}} Behind the goal at the railway end of the ground was space for a further 4,000 standing spectators, and access to the ground was gained via turnstiles on three sides of the ground.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=58}} Total capacity was estimated at 75,000, and construction cost at £10,000 (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|10000|1906|r=-4}}}} today).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}<ref name=PostOpening/> The playing surface, at {{convert|115|x|75|yd|m|0}}, was one of the largest in the country, had a four-yard&nbsp;(3.7&nbsp;m) grassed border, and was surrounded by a [[cinder track|cinder running track]].{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=57}}

=== Early years ===
St Andrew's was officially opened by Sir John Holder on 26 December 1906, when Birmingham played [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] in a [[Football League First Division|First Division]] fixture. There had been heavy snowfall overnight, and dozens of volunteers, including members of the club's board, worked all morning to clear the pitch. The game finally kicked off an hour late, finishing goalless in front of 32,000 spectators.{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=45}}<ref name=PostEditorial>{{cite news |title=News summary |work=Birmingham Daily Post |page=4 |date=27 December 1906}}</ref> The ''[[Birmingham Post|Birmingham Daily Post]]'' editorial next day suggested that "the fact that so many spectators attended under such adverse conditions augurs well for the step that the directors have taken", and that the directors were "to be congratulated in having provided their supporters with a ground second to none in the country".<ref name=PostEditorial/>

[[The Football Association]] chose St Andrew's to host the [[1906–07 FA Cup|1907 FA Cup]] semifinal between [[Sheffield Wednesday|The Wednesday]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Woolwich Arsenal]]; Wednesday won 3–1, and went on to win the tournament. This was the first [[FA Cup]] tie to be played at the ground, as Birmingham had lost their opening match away from home. Three more semifinals took place at St Andrew's before the Second World War, in [[1910–11 FA Cup|1911]], [[1923–24 FA Cup|1924]] and [[1933–34 FA Cup|1934]].{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} The club bought the [[freehold (English law)|freehold]] of the ground in 1921 for a price believed to be less than £7,000 (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|7000|1906|r=-3}}}} today).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|p=87}} In the 1930s, roofs were erected over the Kop and Railway End terraces,{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=45}} and in February 1939, the ground attendance record of 66,844 or 67,341, was set at the fifth-round FA Cup tie against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].{{efn|name=RecordCrowd}}

=== Wartime ===
During the First World War, the club supported the war effort by allowing the ground to be used as a [[rifle range]] for military training.{{sfnp|Lewis|2000|p=11}} On the outbreak of the Second World War, all outdoor sport was banned by the Government until safety implications could be assessed. When football resumed a few weeks later, Birmingham's [[Chief Constable]] ordered the ground's closure because of its proximity to air-raid targets such as the [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]] munitions factories.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|pp=21–22}}{{sfnp|Rippon|2005|pp=16–17}} The matter was first raised in Parliament in November 1939, but the [[Home Secretary]] felt unable to intervene.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Commons: Written Answers: Civil Defence: Football Matches (Spectators) |journal=Hansard |date=15 November 1939 |volume=353 |at=columns 726-727 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1939-11-15/debates/9636b899-abca-4997-8414-b1aaed6527a9/FootballMatches(Spectators) |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> By March 1940, when St Andrew's had for some time been the only football ground in England still closed, the Chief Constable bowed to public pressure, and a crowd of 13,241 witnessed Birmingham's first home game in more than six months<!-- , against [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] in the Midland Regional wartime league -->.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|pp=21–22}}{{sfnp|Rippon|2005|pp=16–17}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Commons: Commons Chamber: Oral Answers To Questions: Civil Defence: Football Prohibition (Birmingham) |journal=Hansard |date=22 February 1940 |volume=357 |at=columns 1515-1516 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1940-02-22/debates/f1539be2-50fd-4a19-ba4b-0d6708b7ed32/FootballProhibition(Birmingham) |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

In 1941, St Andrew's suffered 20 direct hits from [[Luftwaffe]] bombing, which destroyed the roof of the Kop, badly damaged the Railway End, and forced the team to play elsewhere.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|pp=21–22}} It was therefore a surprising choice of venue for a wartime international match between England and Wales; on safety grounds, spectators were required to purchase tickets in advance, and numbers were limited to 25,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-warvic-intres.html |title=England – War-Time/Victory Internationals – Details |last=Courtney |first=Barrie |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) |date=21 March 2004 |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref>{{sfnp|Rippon|2005|p=164|ps=The choice of Birmingham's bomb-damaged ground for the game against Wales later the same month [October 1941] was surprising, not just because St Andrew's had been considered too dangerous even for run-of-the-mill league games in the early wartime seasons, but also because the Birmingham club was not competing in any major competitions in 1941–2. The attendance was restricted to an all-ticket crowd of 25,000.}} Three months later, the Main Stand, which was being used as a temporary [[National Fire Service]] station, burned down, destroying the club's records and equipment{{snd}}"not so much as a lead pencil was saved from the wreckage"<ref>Contemporary report, cited in {{harvp|Rollin|2005|p=107}}.</ref>{{snd}}when a fireman mistook a bucket of [[petrol]] for water when intending to damp down a brazier.{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=45}}{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=58}} The team returned to the ground in 1943.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=58}}

=== Improvements ===
The replacement Main Stand, built in the early 1950s, used a propped [[cantilever]] roof design, which meant fewer pillars to block spectators' view of the pitch. [[Floodlights (sport)|Floodlights]] were installed, and officially switched on for a [[friendly match]] against [[Borussia Dortmund]] in October 1956.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} By the early 1960s, a stand had been built at the Railway End to the same design as the Main Stand, a new roof erected over the Kop, and the Tilton Road end covered for the first time.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} A scoreboard and clock were installed at the City end of the ground in memory of Birmingham and [[England national football team|England]] player [[Jeff Hall (footballer)|Jeff Hall]], who died of [[polio]] during the [[1958–59 in English football|1958–59 season]].{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=92}} In the 1970s, the [[Asda]] chain proposed to share the cost of a new stand as part of a supermarket development on land behind the Kop made vacant by [[Slum clearance in the United Kingdom|slum clearance]]; in the face of opposition from commercial rivals, the proposal fell through.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}}

=== Modernisation ===
The last home game of the [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]] promotion season, against [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], was marred by rioting, culminating in the death of a 15-year-old boy, Ian Hambridge, when a wall collapsed on him; a memorial plaque was eventually placed near the spot.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-leeds-united-tragedy-13021258 |title=RIP Ian Hambridge – reflecting on the 1985 Birmingham City v Leeds United tragedy |first=Paul |last=Cole |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=11 May 2017 |access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref> The riot was on the same day as the [[Bradford City stadium fire]], and the events at St Andrew's were included in the remit of [[Oliver Popplewell#Cases|the Popplewell inquiry]] into safety at sports grounds.<ref name=Popplewell>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90A00AC9DAFD79&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Ban on visiting fans urged in judge's football safety report |first=Philip |last=Webster |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=25 July 1985 |access-date=10 October 2007 |quote=The Birmingham riot in which more than 500 were injured and in which a boy of 15 died when a wall collapsed 'more resembled the battle of Agincourt than a football match.'}}</ref> In response to this and the later [[Taylor Report]], the capacity of St Andrew's was cut to 26,000, but it was accepted that the stadium had to be brought up to modern standards.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=59}} Club chairman [[David Gold (businessman)|David Gold]] recalled his first visit in March 1993:
{{blockquote|It was a shock. I had a picture in my mind of what I was expecting, but it was in such a state of disrepair that it was hard to comprehend&nbsp;... Only two-thirds of the bulbs on the floodlights were working and the Football League had threatened action if we didn't do something to improve the lights. It was raining. It was a dour game. It was dark. It was dull. There were people standing in the rain looking extremely uncomfortable and unhappy. This First Division club was penniless and near to extinction. There were corrugated-iron fences round the ground and it looked as though it hadn't seen a lick of paint since Birmingham reached the FA Cup Final in 1956.{{sfnp|Jawad|2006|p=192}}}}
[[File:St Andrews home of Birmingham City FC. - geograph.org.uk - 148859.jpg|thumb|The Railway Stand and Main Stand (right) in May 1994, viewed across the site of the demolished Kop.]]
Though relegation to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] meant the club was no longer bound by the Taylor Report's 1994 deadline for conversion to all-seater,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.le.ac.uk/sociology/css/resources/factsheets/fs2.pdf |title=Fact Sheet Number 2: Football Stadia After Taylor |publisher=Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research, University of Leicester |date=May 2002 |access-date=12 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606160043/http://www.le.ac.uk/sociology/css/resources/factsheets/fs2.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> new owner [[David Sullivan (publisher)|David Sullivan]] continued the £4.5&nbsp;million development as planned.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} After the last home game of the [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]] season, the Kop and Tilton Road terraces were demolished, helped by fans who took home a significant proportion as souvenirs,{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=59}} the land was cleared{{snd}}the rubbish tip beneath the Kop which had earned the club £800 in 1906 (£{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|800|1906|1994|r=-2}}}} at 1994 prices){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} cost £250,000 to decontaminate{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=47}}{{snd}}and by the start of the new season, 7,000 seats in the Tilton Road Stand were ready for use.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} On completion of the Kop Stand, the stadium was formally re-opened in November 1994 by [[Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington|Baroness Trumpington]], representing the [[Department of National Heritage]], who unveiled a commemorative plaque and presented a cheque for £2.5&nbsp;million on behalf of the Football Trust; the ceremony was followed by a friendly match against Aston Villa, attended by a crowd of 20,000.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} Planning permission for an all-seater Railway Stand was granted in March 1995,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/ApplicationSearch.aspx |title=Details Page for Planning Application 1995/00356/PA |publisher=Birmingham City Council |date=28 March 1995 |access-date=23 August 2020}} Link goes to search page: enter application number from title into search box for details.</ref> but work was delayed by a dispute over land owned by [[Railtrack]] and the stand opened only in 1999.<ref name=TaW>{{cite web |url=http://www.tiredandweary.com/standrews.html |title=St.Andrews: A Brief History |website=Tired And Weary |publisher=USA Branch, Birmingham City Supporters Club |date=27 September 2007 |access-date=4 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118033452/http://www.tiredandweary.com/standrews.html |archive-date=18 January 2008}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6132921.wanderers-wanderers-middle-men-hailed-as-the-best/ |title=Wanderers middle men hailed as the best |first=Gordon |last=Sharrock |newspaper=Bolton Evening News |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

===The 21st century===
In 2004 a proposal was put forward to build a "sports village" comprising a new 55,000 stadium for the club, to be known as the [[City of Birmingham Stadium]], other sports and leisure facilities, and a [[regional casino|super casino]]. The project would be jointly financed by [[Government of Birmingham|Birmingham City Council]], Birmingham City F.C. (via the proceeds of the sale of St Andrew's) and the casino group [[Las Vegas Sands]]. The feasibility of the plan depended on the government issuing a licence for a super casino as permitted under the [[Gambling Act 2005]], and Birmingham being chosen as the venue,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/blues-unveil-stadium-plan-3990763 |title=Blues unveil stadium plan |last=Connor |first=Neil |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=26 October 2005 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> but this did not happen. The club have planning permission to redevelop the Main Stand,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blues-still-hoping-for-new-stadium-29768 |title=Blues still hoping for new stadium |last=Tattum |first=Colin |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> and a derelict building behind the stand has been demolished,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blues-given-green-light-for-flats-37105 |title=Blues given green light for flats demolition |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |last=Bradley |first=Paul |date=31 January 2007 |access-date=6 February 2013}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://www.midlandheart.org.uk/default.aspx?id=391025 |title=Demolition Kicks Off at Holmes Estate |publisher=Midland Heart |date=17 April 2008 |access-date=14 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005233311/http://www.midlandheart.org.uk/default.aspx?id=391025 |archive-date=5 October 2011}}</ref> but club and council continued for a time to seek alternative sources of funding for the City of Birmingham Stadium project.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blues-revive-bid-for-new-stadium-38418 |title=Blues revive bid for new stadium |last=Tattum |first=Colin |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=9 March 2007 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, the Birmingham City Supporters' Trust's application for listing St Andrew's as an [[Asset of Community Value]] (ACV) under the [[Localism Act 2011]] was approved by Birmingham City Council.<ref name=ACV/> The legislation defines an ACV as a building or other land whose main use "furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community" and where it is realistic to believe it could do so in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/88/enacted |title=Localism Act 2011 Chapter 20 Section 88 |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> It requires any proposed sale to be notified to the council, and provides for a six-month moratorium on that sale to allow the Trust and other community groups to submit their own bid.<ref name=ACV>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-citys-st-andrews-awarded-6265836 |title=Birmingham City fans succeed in getting St Andrew's awarded Asset of Community Value status |last=Barnfield |first=Stacey |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=2 November 2013 |access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref>

For sponsorship reasons, the stadium was officially renamed the St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium in June 2018.<ref name=SponsoredRename>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2018/st-andrew-s-and-wast-hills-naming-rights/ |title=St. Andrew's and Wast Hills naming rights |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041134/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2018/st-andrew-s-and-wast-hills-naming-rights/ |url-status=dead }}<br>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44481033 |title=Birmingham City: St Andrew's renamed 'St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium' |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=14 July 2018 }}</ref> During the 2018–19 season, in a further move to reduce the club's losses in light of breaches of the [[English Football League|EFL]]'s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, the stadium was sold for £22.8&nbsp;million to Birmingham City Stadium Ltd, a new company wholly owned by the football club's parent, [[Birmingham Sports Holdings]], and would be leased back to the club for £1.25&nbsp;million per year for 25 years.<ref name=2019NewOwner>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51022017 |title=Birmingham City: St Andrew's sale helps reduce Blues losses for 2018–19 season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2020 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

Having failed to reach an agreement with the club's landlords, [[Wasps RFC]], to continue playing at the [[Ricoh Arena]], [[Coventry City F.C.]] played their matches at St Andrew's in 2019–20 and 2020–21.<ref name=CovShare>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48557082 |title=Coventry City to groundshare with Birmingham City for 2019–20 season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=7 June 2019 }}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/groundshare-to-continue/ |title=Groundshare to continue |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=24 July 2020 |access-date=24 July 2020 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813104732/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/groundshare-to-continue/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

An annual survey conducted during the 2020–21 season revealed the need for repairs to remedy the effects of water ingress on both Kop and Tilton Road Stands. Although the upper tiers were expected to be usable by the first home match of the 2021–22 season, resulting in a temporary reduction of total capacity to 19,000, the deadline for full completion was not until May 2022.<ref name=Capacity2122>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-fans-dealt-blow-20343884 |title=Birmingham City fans dealt blow as St Andrew's repairs 'will not be ready' for new season |first1=Neil |last1=Moxley |first2=Shane |last2=Ireland |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=8 April 2021 |access-date=19 July 2021}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2021/stadium-update/ |title=Stadium update |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=18 May 2021 |access-date=19 July 2021}}<br />{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-st-andrews-repairs-21227952 |title=Birmingham City reveal £2.5m cost of St Andrew's repairs – and the 2022 deadline |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=4 August 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> However, the upper Tilton did not reopen until a month into the season, the upper Kop took a further six weeks,<ref name=Reality2122>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58505746 |title=Birmingham City can reopen upper Tilton stand for Derby County game |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 September 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2021/stadium-update-swansea-city/ |title=Stadium update |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=21 October 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> and May 2022 ended with the club still awaiting full results of site investigations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/club-update-june-2022 |title=Club update: June 2022 |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=1 June 2022 |access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref> Work began during the 2022–23 season to demolish and rebuild the lower tiers, which had remained closed because of what was eventually revealed to be [[asbestos]]-related damage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-fans-dealt-blow-20343884 |title=Birmingham City fans dealt blow as St Andrew's repairs 'will not be ready' for new season |first1=Neil |last1=Moxley |first2=Shane |last2=Ireland |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=8 April 2021 |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="Repairs 230614">{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-confirm-two-key-27118841 |title=Birmingham City confirm two key dates for St Andrew's reopening after repair work |first=Alex |last=Dicken |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=14 June 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> Installation of [[safe standing#Rail seats|rail seats]] to permit [[safe standing]] in the lower tier of the Tilton was due to complete in September 2023, and the Kop was expected to fully re-open two months later.<ref name="Repairs 230614"/> Work stopped after main contractors [[Buckingham Group]] filed for [[administration (law)|administration]] in mid-August,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66544226 |title=Construction firm's collapse could affect Birmingham City's stadium |first=Shehnaz |last=Khan |website=BBC News |date=18 August 2023 |access-date=27 August 2023}}</ref> and resumed in mid-September under the management of [[Mace (construction company)|Mace Consult]], with completion expected by the end of November.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/mace-replaces-buckingham-on-blues-stadium |title=Mace replaces Buckingham on Blues stadium |website=The Construction Index |date=12 September 2023 |access-date=21 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015121929/https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/mace-replaces-buckingham-on-blues-stadium |archive-date=15 October 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Both lower tiers were open for the last match of November, although the western end of the Kop was still incomplete.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/the-return-to-the-kop-lower |title=The return to the Kop Lower |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=22 November 2023 |access-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240202220236/https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/the-return-to-the-kop-lower |archive-date=2 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2024, the club's owners, Shelby Companies, renamed the stadium St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park as part of what it described as "the largest commercial agreement in the club's history". According to Tom Wagner, chairman of both club and Shelby's parent company Knighthead, it was "step one in our plan to create a world-renowned 'Sports Quarter' in Birmingham. We invested in Blues because of the opportunity to not only transform a football club but to also be a catalyst for change in the city itself."<ref name="Knighthead naming">{{cite press release |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/birmingham-city-announces-naming-rights-partnership-with-knighthead |title=Birmingham City announces naming rights partnership with Knighthead |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=26 January 2024 |access-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240202220301/https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/birmingham-city-announces-naming-rights-partnership-with-knighthead |archive-date=2 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Structure and facilities ==
The stadium has four stands. The Main Stand (renamed the Garrison Lane Stand from 2010 to 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2027361,00.html |title=Old Main Stand to be renamed |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426040133/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~2027361%2C00.html |archive-date=26 April 2010}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2774592,00.html |title=The Main Stand |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520040713/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~2774592%2C00.html |archive-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>), a free-standing structure on the north side of the playing area, was completed in 1954 and has seating for fewer than 5,000 spectators.<ref name=PostCapacities/> The upper tier contains the media area and an area of corporate seats as well as standard seating.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1200689A84B717A0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggdocs&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Blues have priced loyal fans out of football |first=Jon |last=Bounds |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> The lower tier, known as the Paddocks, consists of a few rows of seats placed on the uncovered terraced area in front of the stand; the view from this area can be obstructed by the central tunnel and the [[dugout (football)|dugouts]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F6778A612C7C2B6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Fans standing firm over Blues moves |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=18 July 2001 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> A row of [[executive box]]es was added at the back of the Paddocks in the 1970s.{{sfnp|Jawad|2006|p=43}} The family area is divided between the eastern end of the Main Stand and the Paddock beneath.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/club-and-fans/fans/family-zone/ |title=Family Zone |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> The club planned £1.3&nbsp;million worth of restructuring and refurbishment work on the stand, which contained [[corporate entertainment|hospitality]] areas and offices, during the 2009 closed season,{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=47}}<ref name=BCFCPrelimFinalResAug08>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1525591,00.html |title=Birmingham City plc (the 'Company') Preliminary Statement of Final Results for the Year Ended 31 August 2008 |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=20 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720180803/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~1525591%2C00.html |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> and seating was replaced in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2111871,00.html |title=Bluenoses set for refreshing change |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=5 August 2010 |access-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630224456/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2111871,00.html |archive-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> The broadcasting gantry is situated in the roof of this stand.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BEM1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1391EAE34A9E1FD8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Havin' A Laff: Video that didn't thrill a radio star |newspaper=Birmingham Evening Mail |date=3 October 2005 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref>

[[File:StAndrew's Main Stand and Clock.JPG|thumb|right|Main Stand showing [[Jeff Hall (footballer)|Jeff Hall]] memorial clock, September 2008]]To commemorate the 50th anniversary of [[Jeff Hall (footballer)|Jeff Hall]]'s death, the club commissioned a memorial clock to replace the original which did not survive the 1990s renovations. Placed centrally above the Main Stand, it was unveiled in September 2008 by Hall's teammates [[Alex Govan]] and [[Gil Merrick]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-city-legends-unveil-new-69298 |title=Birmingham City legends unveil new Jeff Hall memorial clock |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Mark |last=Cowan |date=15 September 2008 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> However, adverse reaction to the clock's size and position provoked the club into ordering a larger replacement<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jeff-hall-clock-to-be-replaced-by-birmingham-69712 |title=Jeff Hall clock to be replaced by Birmingham City |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Colin |last=Tattum |date=22 September 2008 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> to be incorporated in a proposed big screen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-cut-season-ticket-81517 |title=Birmingham City cut season ticket prices |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Colin |last=Tattum |date=1 January 2009 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>

[[File:St Andrew's Railway Stand across the railway.JPG|thumb|left|The all-seater Railway Stand was built in the 1990s.]]
The Railway Stand, on the west side of the stadium nearest to Birmingham city centre, is also free-standing. It was opened in 1999 and holds some 8,000 spectators in two tiers;<ref name=PostCapacities>{{cite news |url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=space-may-lure-city-s-elite&method=full&objectid=14185152&siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Space may lure City's elite |work=Birmingham Post |first=Neil |last=Connor |date=27 April 2004 |access-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105161002/http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline%3Dspace-may-lure-city-s-elite%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D14185152%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html |archive-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> the upper tier, a small area known as the Olympic Gallery, overhangs the lower, at the back of which is a row of executive boxes.{{sfnp|Adams|2007|p=12}} From the 2009–10 season, the Railway Stand was renamed the Gil Merrick Stand, in honour of the club's appearance record-holder and former manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/railway-end-to-be-named-after-blues-91503 |title=Railway End to be named after Blues legend Gil Merrick |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Colin |last=Tattum |date=27 April 2009 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> Visiting supporters are housed in the lower Railway Stand, segregated from home fans by netting over the seats.{{sfnp|Adams|2007|pp=12–13}}

[[File:StAndrew's Kop Stand.jpg|thumb|left|Kop Stand seen from the upper section of the Tilton Road Stand]]The Kop Stand and the Tilton Road Stand, opened in 1994, form a continuous L-shaped single-tier stand, with seating capacity for nearly 17,000 spectators, round the remaining half of the pitch. A walkway separates back and front sections.<ref name=PostCapacities/>{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=48}} The Kop seating includes the directors' box and a row of executive boxes, within the stand are a number of function rooms and hospitality areas,{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}}{{sfnp|Inglis|1996|p=48}} and there are electronic perimeter advertising boards in front. The stadium has floodlight pylons only on the north side; the south side is lit by a row of lights along the front of the Kop roof.{{sfnp|Jawad|2006|p=189}} The Tilton Road Stand has 9,000 seats,<ref name=PostCapacities/> and is the only one without hospitality boxes.{{sfnp|Adams|2007|p=12}}

The various function rooms and corporate boxes are available for hire for business or social events, and the stadium is licensed as a venue for civil weddings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/hospitality-events/events/conferences-events/ |title=Conferences & events |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |access-date=29 May 2018 }}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/weddings/ |title=Weddings |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> There are accessible entrances, wheelchair areas and accessible toilets in all parts of the stadium, and commentary headsets for visually impaired spectators are available.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/club-and-fans/fans/disabled-information/ |title=Disabled information |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref>

The pitch measures {{convert|100|x|66|m|yd|0}}.<ref name=BCFCRecords/> It was relaid three times in 2007. The first attempt, made because the surface had deteriorated to a dangerous condition, was unsuccessful because of freak rainfall which resulted in the postponement of the next match{{snd}}the first time such an event had happened in senior English football. The work had to be repeated,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6254677.stm |title=League probes Blues' postponement |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2007 |access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6574931.stm |title=Birmingham avoid pitch punishment |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> and then done for a third time in the closed season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6431893.stm |title=Birmingham will relay new pitch |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 March 2007 |access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> The postponement of an FA Cup-tie in January 2009 highlighted the lack of [[under-soil heating]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fury-as-big-freeze-hits-birmingham-237537 |title=Fury as big freeze hits Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup tie |work=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |first=Andy |last=Walker |date=4 January 2009 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> which was installed in June.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-citys-pitch-battle-explained-122336 |title=Birmingham City's pitch battle explained |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Colin |last=Tattum |date=30 March 2010 |access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref> In 2017 the surface was converted to use the SISGrass [[hybrid grass]] reinforced turf system.<ref name=SISGrass>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/st-andrew-s-undergoes-pitch-transformation/ |title=St Andrew's undergoes pitch transformation |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=17 June 2017 |access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
Teams representing England have played international matches at St Andrew's, though not at [[England national football team|senior level]]. In 1957, [[England B national football team|England B]] defeated [[Scotland national football B team|Scotland B]] under floodlights in front of nearly 40,000 spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=528 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224004133/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=528 |archive-date=24 December 2007 |title=Scotland B Internationals |publisher=Scottish Football Association}}<br>{{cite news |title=England B XI score in first minute |newspaper=The Times |page=12 |date=7 February 1957}}</ref> England's junior sides have played there on several occasions, at under-23,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-u23-intres-det.html |title=England – U-23 International Results– Details |last=Courtney |first=Barrie |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=27 March 2004 |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> under-21{{snd}}the 4–0 defeat to [[Spain national under-21 football team|Spain]] in 2001 was the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21 team]]'s worst home defeat<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/2999709/Under-21-International-Gifted-young-Spanish-side-hand-out-lesson.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/2999709/Under-21-International-Gifted-young-Spanish-side-hand-out-lesson.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Under-21 International: Gifted young Spanish side hand out lesson |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |last=Winter |first=Henry |date=27 February 2001 |access-date=20 October 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{snd}}and youth levels.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} Before competitive football resumed after the First World War, a [[Scottish Football League XI]] beat their English counterparts, including Birmingham players [[Frank Womack]] and [[Billy Morgan (footballer, born 1891)|Billy Morgan]], 3–1 at St Andrew's.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/games/19190222.html |title=Sat 22 Feb 1919 English Football League 3 SFL 1 |publisher=London Hearts Supporters Club |access-date=6 October 2008}}<br>{{cite news |title=International League Match |newspaper=The Times |page=5 |date=24 February 1919}}</ref>

As of 2009, four FA Cup semifinals have taken place at St Andrew's, and the ground has hosted semifinal [[replay (sports)|replays]] on five occasions, most recently in 1961.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=193–196}} It was the venue for the [[1987 Football League Second Division play-off final|1987 play-off final]] replay, in which [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] beat [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] to remain in the [[Football League First Division]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cafc.digital-ink.co.uk/personality.ink?page=7641 |title=8. Charlton 2 Leeds United 1 (aet) |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C. |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322153945/http://cafc.digital-ink.co.uk/personality.ink?page=7641 |archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref> and for the final of the [[FA Vase]] in 2004 and 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winchestercityfc.co.uk/the-club-brbr-winchester-city-football-club-is-a-committee-run-members-club-and-as-such-is-an-unincorporated-association/history |title=Club history |publisher=Winchester City F.C. |access-date=4 March 2016}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2016/01/28/nantwich-town-fa-vase-heroes-needed-new-book/ |title=Nantwich Town FA Vase heroes needed for new book |newspaper=Nantwich News |date=28 January 2016 |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

The ground has also been used for other sports. Small Heath Harriers [[sport of athletics|athletic]] club, whose headquarters had been at the Muntz Street ground, trained at St Andrew's until the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sshac.co.uk/history.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120001913/http://www.sshac.co.uk/history.aspx |title=Small Heath Harriers |publisher=Solihull and Small Heath Athletic Club |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 November 2008}}</ref> The 1960 [[South Africa national rugby union team|South African]] touring [[rugby union]] team beat a Midland Counties XV by 16 points to 5 on a muddy St Andrew's pitch in front of a 17,000 crowd.<ref>{{cite news |title=Weighty problem for Counties |newspaper=The Times |page=10 |date=29 December 1960 |quote=The idea of playing this match on the Birmingham City football ground was obviously popular and drew a crowd of over 17,000. From the Rugby point of view it was not so good, as the ground was a sea of mud to start with and this meant that anything like fast and open Rugby was out of the question.}}</ref> In 1949, [[Dick Turpin (boxer)|Dick Turpin]] beat [[Albert Finch]] on points to retain his British and [[British Empire|Empire]] [[middleweight]] boxing title;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10255 |title=Dick Turpin |website=BoxRec |access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref> Turpin's brothers Jack and future world champion [[Randolph Turpin|Randolph]] fought on the [[undercard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/21897 |title=Monday 20, June 1949 |website=BoxRec |access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref> In 1965, [[Henry Cooper (boxer)|Henry Cooper]] defeated Johnny Prescott at St Andrew's to retain his British and Empire [[heavyweight]] title;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9379 |title=Henry Cooper |website=BoxRec |access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref> the fight took place two days after originally scheduled, having been rained off at the last minute, which prompted debate as to the feasibility of outdoor boxing promotions in light of the uncertain British weather.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cooper's bout off |newspaper=The Times |page=4 |date=16 June 1965 |quote=No one huddled round the ringside from the rain could remember any other occasion on which a British championship of this importance had been cancelled by rain, but there was a general feeling that tomorrow may be the last attempt to stage a major outdoor promotion in this country. The British summer is too unpredictable.}}<br>{{cite news |title=Prescott retires after 10 spoiling rounds |newspaper=The Times |page=5 |date=18 June 1965}}</ref>

St Andrew's was the location for the rally scene in [[Peter Watkins]]' 1967 film ''[[Privilege (film)|Privilege]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Grand turmoil |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |place=Birmingham |date=21 August 1966 |page=18}}</ref> It has hosted a number of music concerts: performers and events include [[UB40]], supported by [[The Pogues]], in 1989,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSMB1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F687E09799FDA76&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=21 things you never knew about UB40 |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |last=Leek |first=Martyn |date=17 June 2001 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> [[Duran Duran]] in 2005,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4589585.stm |title=Hometown concert for Duran Duran |publisher=BBC News |date=28 May 2005 |access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> and the 2002 [[Party in the Park]], featuring [[Westlife]] and [[Sugababes]] among others.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F4B5C6DED5D1C16&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Let's Party in the Park |newspaper=Birmingham Post |last=Wishaw |first=John |date=8 July 2002 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref>

== Records ==
[[File:St Andrew's Stadium League Attendances.png|thumb|right|Average and peak league attendances at St Andrew's]]
The record attendance at St Andrew's was set at the fifth-round FA Cup tie against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on 11 February 1939; the actual figure is variously reported as 66,844 or 67,341.{{efn|1=Some sources give the record attendance as 66,844: these include the Records page of Birmingham City F.C.'s website<ref name=BCFCRecords>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/Records/0,,10412,00.html |title=Birmingham City Records |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720181014/http://www.bcfc.com/page/Records/0,,10412,00.html |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> and Rothman's Football Yearbook.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Rollin |editor-first=Jack |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1990 |page=81 |isbn=0-356-17911-7}}</ref> Others, including the History page of Birmingham City F.C.'s website,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/bcfc-club-history-453059.aspx |title=BCFC club history |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |access-date=6 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529124219/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/bcfc-club-history-453059.aspx |archive-date=29 May 2016}}</ref> Matthews' ''Encyclopedia'',{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=20–21}} and ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper from the Monday following the match,<ref>{{cite news |title=Fifth round official figures |newspaper=The Times |date=13 February 1939 |page=5}}</ref> say 67,341.|name=RecordCrowd}} The highest attendance recorded for a league match is 60,250, against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] on 23 November 1935.{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=20–21}} The highest average attendance over a league season, 38,821, was set during the [[1948–49 in English football|1948–49]] First Division season, and the lowest, 6,289, was recorded in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]].{{sfnp|Matthews|2000|pp=20–21}} Since the stadium was converted to [[all-seater]], the record attendance is 29,588, set against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[Premier League]] on 22 November 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/25990/birmingham-ground-guide |title=Birmingham City: Ground Guide |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=28 December 2019 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

St Andrew's was the venue for the first use of a [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]] to determine the winner of an FA Cup match. For five seasons, between 1970 and 1974, the losing FA Cup semifinalists were obliged to play off for [[FA Cup third-fourth place matches|third and fourth place]]; Birmingham City finished third in the [[1971–72 FA Cup]] by beating [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] 4–3 on penalties following a goalless 90 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/915-FA-Cup/8305-best-of-the-rest |title=Best of the rest |first=Owen |last=Amos |magazine=When Saturday Comes |date=February 2011 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=207}}

== Transport ==
The nearest railway station to the stadium is {{rws|Bordesley}}, on the [[Birmingham to Stratford Line]] between {{rws|Birmingham Moor Street||Moor Street}} and {{rws|Small Heath}} stations, which has regular services only on match days. The stadium is a 30-minute walk from {{rws|Birmingham New Street||New Street station}}, which is served by direct trains from most parts of the country, and slightly less far from Moor Street, which is served by [[Chiltern Railways]] trains from {{stn|Marylebone}}. [[Birmingham Coach Station]], served by [[National Express Coaches|National Express coaches]], is a 20-minute walk away, and buses run from the city centre past the ground. There is no parking at the stadium itself.{{sfnp|Adams|2007|pp=12–13}}<ref name=capacity/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/st-andrews-birmingham-city.html |title=Birmingham City |website=The Football Ground Guide |date=November 2011 |publisher=Duncan Adams |access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book |last=Adams |first=Duncan |title=A fan's guide to football grounds: England and Wales |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Hersham |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-7110-3268-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Inglis |title=Football Grounds of Britain |orig-year=1985 |edition=3rd |date=1996 |publisher=CollinsWillow |location=London |isbn=0-00-218426-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Jawad |first=Hyder |title=Keep Right On: The Official Centenary of St. Andrew's |date=2006 |publisher=Trinity Mirror Sport Media |location=Liverpool |isbn=978-1-905266-16-6}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Lewis |editor1-first=Peter |title=Keeping right on since 1875. The Official History of Birmingham City Football Club |date=2000 |publisher=Arrow |location=Lytham |isbn=1-900722-12-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |date=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000 |date=October 2000 |publisher=Britespot |location=Cradley Heath |isbn=978-0-9539288-0-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Rippon |first=Anton |title=Gas Masks for Goal Posts. Football in Britain during the Second World War |publisher=Sutton |location=Stroud |date=2005 |isbn=0-7509-4030-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Rollin |first=Jack |title=Soccer at War 1939–45 |publisher=Headline |location=London |date=2005 |isbn=978-0-7553-1431-7}}

==See also==
*[[List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity]]
*[[Lists of stadiums]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.bcfc.com Birmingham City F.C. official website]

{{Birmingham City F.C.}}
{{Coventry City F.C.}}
{{Premier League venues}}
{{EFL League One venues}}
{{Men's Football in the West Midlands}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Andrews}}
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C.]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C.]]
[[Category:Football venues in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1906]]
[[Category:English Football League venues]]
[[Category:Premier League venues]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in England]]