Eyes of the world on the West Midlands during epic month of top-class tournaments.
The West Midlands is preparing for a significant economic boost and increased global profile as it plays host to a massive month of sporting action, with three major international tournaments set to draw visitors to the region.
Throughout March, the West Midlands will be the backdrop as the world’s best badminton, kabaddi and esports players thrill more than 50,000 fans in arenas across the region, plus an estimated television audience reach of hundreds of millions of people.
The YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships (11th-16th March, Utilita Arena, Birmingham); The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 (17th-23rd March, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall); and ‘Game On Birmingham’ (26th-30th March, Solihull), including the British Esports Cup (26th March), West Midlands Unwrapped (28th March) and Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2025 Major Birmingham (29th-30th March, bp pulse LIVE, Solihull), are anticipated to bring £5.8 million in economic impact for the West Midlands.
Joel Lavery, Strategic Lead for Major Sporting Events, West Midlands Growth Company, said: “The Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund has provided us with a platform to stage major events, which align with our values and celebrate and showcase the West Midlands.
“From hosting global sport conferences like SportAccord to innovative formats such as FISE Xperience, these prestigious events have given us the opportunity to show domestic and international audiences that this region loves its sport and has the passion, infrastructure and track record to create unforgettable sporting memories.”
The YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious tournaments, with some of the globe’s most impressive athletes competing across five different disciplines for the chance to be crowned champion. The event is an international festival of badminton – the “Wimbledon of the shuttlecock world” – with players from nations including China, India, Japan and Malaysia descending on Birmingham, which has hosted the tournament since 1994.
Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham is a city of passionate and knowledgeable sports fans and it’s a major coup for us to once again host the YONEX All England Open – the world’s biggest and best badminton tournament.
“Throw in The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup and ‘Game On Birmingham’ and March promises to be another exciting sporting month here in Birmingham and across the West Midlands.”
The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will see teams from countries including India, China, USA and England compete in the West Midlands, the first time the competition has been hosted outside Asia. Kabaddi is the fastest growing sport in South Asia, with this year’s tournament taking place in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall.
Having already hosted the Super League Basketball Trophy Finals in January and UK Athletics Indoor Championships in February, March will see the West Midlands host more Champions League football as Aston Villa face Club Brugge in the second leg of the tournament’s round of 16 (12th March). The region’s new netball team – Birmingham Panthers – will also play their highly-anticipated first Netball Super League match at bp pulse LIVE (21st March).
The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup and RLCS 2025 Major Birmingham are two of the nine cultural and sporting events to have shared £3 million of Commonwealth Games legacy funding. For more information about the region’s sporting offer, visit meetbirmingham.com/sportingevents.
