Brady dismisses NEC casino bid

Dec 14 2005 By Paul Dale, Chief Reporter

Birmingham City FC chief executive Karren Brady has dismissed as "unworkable" a bid by the National Exhibition Centre to become the home for the country ' s first super-casino.

Ms Brady believes the NEC proposal will not get Government approval and she is continuing to urge the city council to back the Blues' scheme for a casino and a 55,000-seat multi-purpose stadium.

She will today meet NEC chief executive Andrew Morris, at his request, but does not believe a compromise is likely.

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Mr Morris yesterday announced a partnership with Las Vegas- based MGM Mirage to build a casino at the NEC, in a deal that would produce £ 350 million of income for the city council over ten years.

Part of the money could be used to deliver the Blues stadium, he said.

But Ms Brady is insisting the NEC project will never get off the ground because it does not meet Government criteria which insists that supercasinos must deliver regeneration and economic activity to deprived areas.

She said: "I am not saying the NEC doesn't have a needs-case for a casino. But it cannot happen because it doesn't tick all of the boxes that the Government would like ticked.

"I believe our plan is the only workable proposal in Birmingham.

"It will bring jobs and economic growth to two of the poorest wards with the highest unemployment anywhere in the country. You could hardly say that about the NEC."

Ms Brady said she had been told during informal chats with Government sources that the Blues scheme presented the best casino regeneration case in Britain.

She added: "Birmingham City Council needs to decide by the end of January which scheme to back.

"The council must back our scheme because, however much the NEC may need a casino, it isn't going to happen.

"I really hope the council does not let an emotional attachment to the NEC cloud its judgment on this issue."