Good psot, but I think you are ignoring the changes Birmingham experienced before Manchester began to develop after the IRA bomb in 1996! Birmingham undoubtedly seems to be a bit ignored on the media spotlight which is the reason many dont recognise what the place is about. There's a reason why its one of only 2 cities to have 2 top arena's in the world 9other being Las Vegas), Theres a reason why it holds, the worlds largest fashion show, dog show, motorsport show etc. Theres a reason why its the UK's most used city for sport, theres a reason why its the only European city to host the European indoors twice and world indoors in the same decade. There's a reason why 13 BILLION POUNDS IS BEING INVESTED IN TO THE CITY CENTER. Theres a reason why Birmingham is the only city able to speculative build outside the capital, theres a reason why the biggest pre-let outside London was sold in Brum, theres a reason why companies are creating thier own one of construction firms for one of projects within the city, theres a reason why we have more skyscrapers in the pipeline the Manchester ;)

The difference is, Manchester knows how to boast, Birmingham knows how to be subtile untill it matters. The reason why we still attract more tourists and events then Manchester ;)

I'd accept that Manchester's renaissance has been very recent and until the late 1990s Birmingham was the UK's undisputed second city. I'm a bit unsure about your statistics - surely New York, Milan, Paris and London have considerably bigger fashion shows than Birmingham; London is certainly more used than Birmingham for sport and Manchester's sporting history is far superior to Birmingham's with a 76,000 and 49,000 capacity stadiums and one of the world's most famous football clubs. Manchester has recently hosted a highly successful Commenwealth Games, the BBC is considering it the "second city" - moving a large part of its operation to Salford and the UK's first "supercasino" went to Manchester ahead of many other cities, including Birmingham. It can also boast to have the tallest residential tower in the UK and Britain's largest arena.

Now, there are ins and outs to each milestone, but it does lead to an improved perception of Manchester as a modern, forward-thinking city, an impression I certainly get whenever I visit. I cannot see the "second-city" tag to be a clear one in the near future and in a country with such an obvious primary city in London, it may not matter that much. Let's not let this turn into a city versus city, but I do think your claim that Birmingham could be a major European city is rather weak.

I don't think rotterdam or birmingham will ever be in the same league as frankfurt (whatever league that is), but it seems both cities are growing (in many ways) and this could lead to the conclusion, that they're going to gain importance in europe - atleast as major regional centres.

http://www.clotheshowlive.com/main/eventinfo/

Birmingham hosts more domestic and international sporting events then any other city. It was the first city to be given the National City of Sport aswell as the first UK city to be awarded European City of Sport For All.

Manchesters sporting history is not far superior. Birmingham was the home of lawn tennis AKA Wimbledon - only last week Sharapova and Jankovic battled it out in the final for the DFS classic title in Edgbaston. It had 3 of the founder members of the football league (AKA The biggest sporting league in the world) - Manchester currently has a much more succesful team then Birmingham in United but that could all change within the next few years not to mention Brum has 3 big teams to Manchesters 2 and another 1 former great just 6 miles away in Wolverhampton Wanderers with all teams having plans to expand the stadiums including Birmingham which will build thiers for both the World Athletic Championships and Commonwealth Games bids. Its home to the Belfry - one of the most famous golf courses in the world used for the Ryder cup, Birminghams hosts the Davis Cup, IAAF Grand Prixs, Olympic Trials etc etc - it also just won the world trampolining and gymnastic championships for 2011 which was decided in Toronto a few weeks ago.

Manchester might have held the Commonwealth games, but Birmingham in the last 10 years has hosted the European Indoors Twice aswell as the World Indoors - G8 Summit, Eurovision Song Contest the first city outside London to host the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.



Land is the reason for the BBC not to mention Manchesters location. BBC however has 2 departments located in Brum including its BBC Regional Programmes based within the city. I dont see a HK tycoon billionaire hoping to fund a Sporting Village within the city? The UK's first super casino went to Manchester, argued immensly in Commons now on the rails and not likely to happen. Birmingham didnt put a bid forward as it had to local operators aiming to beat one another - NEC did however win a Casino. Birmingham apart from Las Vegas is the only city to have 2 arenas in the top 100 in the world. NEC is the 7th largest complex in Europe and holds more events then any complex within the UK. NIA is a more nationally important arena then Manchesters and is the reason why the sports department and the IAA continue to operate through the city.

Well considering Birmingham was recently rewarded the Euroopean city of the future title last year that argument seems pretty much answered.

Err, its the 41st richest city in the world, One of the top shopping destinations in Europe, 2nd largest city in the worlds 5th largest economy, It has every initention of becoming a leading European city and so it should. Infact if I were to list what Birmingham has done for Europe already you would see its been one of the most influential cities of the conitnent and still is. From Cadbury to Aston Martin, Mini, to Football Leagues, Odeon Cinema to Whistles, Baskerville Type Face to Steam Engine, Copying Machine to Hydraulic Ram, Custard Powder to Gas Lighting, Transatlantic Telegraph Cable to the Duplex Lamp, Stapler to Radiograph for X-Rays, JR Tolkien and the LOTR to Smoke Detector, Brylcreem to Windscreen Wipers, Magnatron (used now in Microwaves/Radars) to the UKS first hole in heart operation. Could go on but its ignored by the majority. One things for sure though its been a major European city for some time, it just needs to regain that which its trying to do after it was knocked off its feet after the war.

Well, Regal are now planning possibly Birminghams tallest tower. Been quite a vintage year for the city with over 12 towers now U/C or proposed over 100m within the city to go with the 3 already built.

Another 118m proposed the largest single office tower/block outside London (not in height) that belongs to another in Birmingham ;) and another developer has just purchased the old fire station with views for an "enourmous" tower within!

Seems Birmingham has a very healthy office and residential market!

Towers over 100m

Built - BLUE
U/C - RED
Approved - GREEN
Proposed - PURPLE

200m V.T.P
163m Colmore Row
152m BT Tower
152m V Building
150m+ Regal
150m+ Lancaster
138m Snow Hill
135m Broad Street Tower
125m NS 1
125m NS 2
122m Holloway Circus
118m 1 Snow Hill Plaza
110m Martineau Galleries
104m Masshouse
100m Alpha Tower

^ Seems good! :D