The West Midlands has announced a line-up of high-quality sporting action to keep visitors entertained following the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
During the month of September, the region will play host to major finals, new international events, and high-profile fixtures as it continues to capture the hearts and minds of both new and repeat sporting spectators.
Wolverhampton will host the FISE Xperience Series from 13 to 15 September in Old Market Square. This event will feature competitions such as BMX Park, Scooter Park, and Breaking for the first time outside France in the series’ history. The free-to-attend action sports event will be the final stop on the series’ 2024 calendar, following events in Montpellier, Reims, and Le Havre. Earlier in the month, the city will also welcome the popular national soapbox racing event, Krazy Races, on 1 September in Queen Square, marking the third time it has been held there.
In Birmingham, the Vitality Blast Finals Day will return to Edgbaston Stadium on 14 September for the 12th successive year, with four county cricket sides battling it out to win the sport’s domestic showpiece event of the season. Meanwhile, The Belfry, which has hosted the Ryder Cup more times than any other golfing venue, will once again host the Betfred British Masters on its famous Brabazon Course from 28 August to 1 September. Additionally, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena will be the stage for the world’s most powerful athletes as they compete in The Strongman Open 2024 – Giants Live on 7 September.
Having just kicked off their 150th anniversary season, Aston Villa will play Champions League football for the first time in more than 40 years, with their first match on 17 or 18 September. Later in the month, they will also welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers for the first West Midlands derby of the season at Villa Park on 21 September. Among other key football fixtures during the month, seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady will face Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney when Birmingham City play Wrexham on 16 September. West Bromwich Albion will host Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle on 21 September, and Wolves will welcome Liverpool to Molineux on 28 September.
Birmingham’s official Paralympics GB Fanzone, running from 28 August to 8 September in St Martin’s Square, will screen full coverage of the Paralympic Games in Paris. Meanwhile, Weston Park in Shropshire will host Britain’s biggest cross-country event, the English National Cross Country Championships, on 14 September, marking the first time the event has been held there.
Neil Rami, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company said, “The West Midlands’ super September of sport offers both seasoned spectators and sporting novices an accessible, affordable, and assorted way of ensuring the drama of the recent Paris Olympic Games is replicated on our doorstep into the autumn.
“Our region is at the heart of sport in the UK, with great facilities, passionate fans, and a pipeline of exciting events taking place here, such as the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup, 2026 European Athletics Championships, and Invictus Games in 2027. Sporting events and activities are responsible for one in seven visits made to the West Midlands, and we hope those making the trip in September and beyond enjoy a memorable and winning experience.”
Birmingham has climbed two places to 31st in the 2024 Ranking of Sports Cities, released by global communications agency Burson. The annual ranking identifies the top 100 cities worldwide with the strongest association with sport, based on perception and feedback by sports leaders, industry experts, and social media analytics.
Birmingham is the only UK city to improve its position compared to 2023, overtaking previous Summer Olympic host destinations Berlin and Melbourne and 2022 Football World Cup host city Doha. This follows the West Midlands’ hosting of the SportAccord World & Business Summit in April 2024 and the largest multi-sport event in England in the last decade, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Click here to find out more about the West Midlands region.
