Birmingham owner Warns Premier League Dominance is Key to Sustaining Football Interest, Especially in US
Birmingham City’s owner believes maintaining the strength of elite Premier League clubs is vital to attracting continued investment, especially from the United States. Speaking recently, the co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management argued that a lack of dominance at the top level of international football would diminish interest – and crucially, capital flows – into the sport, especially within the US market.
“If you have a situation where the top teams are not dominant, I mean internationally, with the very best players and product, then the interest will wane – particularly from the US market which will drive interest and capital flows into football,” he stated. He added, “I love the pyramid – we have experienced a lot of it – but the top clubs that are highly successful have significant brand value and draw interest. We hope that interest will help grow the entire pyramid.”
Birmingham, backed by significant US investment since 2023, exemplifies this trend. The club secured promotion from League One to the Championship last season with a record 111 points, fueled by substantial spending – £25m in league One alone, exceeding the rest of the division’s combined expenditure, according to Transfermarkt. They join other US-backed clubs like Wrexham, owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, as major spenders in the EFL.
The growing US influence in English football is significant, with eleven of the 20 Premier League teams currently having American owners. A two-thirds majority ownership stake could enable these owners to vote through major changes, including the controversial proposal of a 39th match played overseas. Birmingham’s owner expressed support for playing a match in the United States, having previously considered a game against Wrexham on US soil.
“We have two US-owned clubs in the Championship and our matches did very well in the US when broadcast. I think we are only scratching the surface of what we can do internationally and that’s very exciting,” he said.
Beyond on-field investment, Birmingham is also pursuing ambitious off-field development, including plans for a proposed 62,000-seat multipurpose stadium as part of a “Sport Quarter” project, aiming to establish the city as a football destination. The owner questioned why fans currently prioritize travel to London and Manchester while overlooking Birmingham, the “second city.”
He also expressed a desire for success among Birmingham’s local rivals, stating, “I respect fans enjoy the misery of their crosstown rivals, but if I was to root against Villa or Wolves in our immediate area then I am rooting against clubs in the Birmingham area and lessening the quality of Birmingham football.” He drew parallels to the successful rivalries within Manchester and London, suggesting a similar dynamic could boost interest in Birmingham.
he confirmed that Knighthead Capital Management has no interest in multi-club ownership, having previously considered – and rejected – a minority stake in a London club due to valuation concerns before ultimately investing in Birmingham.
