£100m plan on stadium plan

Sports politics Birmingham yesterday stepped up its attempt to beat off its rivals, Manchester and Wembley, as the location of Britain's new national stadium when it offered a 110-acre site for the building of a 70,000-seater stadium.

Supporters say that unlike Manchester, the proposed site - next to the National Exhibition Centre - is totally owned by the city council and is readily available for a £100m development.

"We have made a great deal of progress in preparing this location," Theresa Stewart, the Birmingham council leader, said. "Millions of pounds have been spent to make the NEC uniquely accessible for the whole nation."