Edgbaston cricket stadium has received another boost just days before the start of the 2023 Ashes Series after being chosen to host a string of major cricket matches.
In another major boon to Birmingham's tourism economy, the venue will welcome what bosses are calling its "biggest-ever allocation of international cricket" between 2025 and 2031.
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed its international men's and women's schedule for the seven-year period with Edgbaston saying it could add £250 million to the city's economy, with hotels, bars and restaurants all set to benefit.
Based on previous impact reports, it is estimated that up to 100,000 people visit the city for a major test match, including some 60 per cent travelling from more than 50 miles away.
Among the matches awarded to the stadium are a men's test match for all but one year when the ICC T20 World Cup year will be held in 2030, with tournament games expected to be played at Edgbaston.
The men's Ashes will return in 2027 and India will head to Birmingham for tests in 2025 and 2029, with additional test fixtures to be announced in due course.
There will be a total of five women's white-ball internationals held over the seven-year allocation while Edgbaston will continue to host the Vitality Blast T20 Finals Day until at least 2031.
This allocation by the ECB has been announced for seven years, rather than the usual five-year period, to give venues greater certainty and encourage sustainable investment into facilities.
Edgbaston chairman Mark McCafferty said: "This is massive news for Edgbaston, Birmingham and the West Midlands bringing a tangible boost to the economy as well as world-class cricket to fans who love the unique Edgbaston atmosphere.
"It's our largest-ever allocation of international fixtures, for the longest period and we would not have achieved it without the efforts of everyone working at Edgbaston, as well as the support of Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority.
"In 2019, when the Aussies last visited Birmingham for the Ashes, Edgbaston attracted around 400,000 visitors and contributed £68 million to the city's economy. We estimate the economic wealth brought to the region from this seven-year major match is at least £250 million.
"We're particularly pleased to be hosting India several times over the coming years and can also expect to host teams like Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"We know how important these games are to the city's diverse communities and we're also particularly excited about the role we shall play in promoting the rapid growth of women's cricket in the region and globally, following the highly successful Commonwealth Games."
Birmingham City Council leader Cllr John Cotton added: "Edgbaston is one of the world's leading cricket venues and this news further enhances Birmingham as a global sporting city.
"Attracting and hosting major events, as outlined in our ten-year Major Sporting Events Strategy, delivers positive, economic and environmental impact for our residents, businesses and regional economy, as we have seen from the likes of the Commonwealth Games and the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
"The ECB's commitment to international fixtures for the next eight years and the new masterplan set to transform Edgbaston Stadium and the surrounding communities is a huge boost for Birmingham and residents alike."
