More than 200,000 people are expected in Birmingham during the first weekend of July as major music and sporting events take place across the city. From Black Sabbath’s final concert at Villa Park to the England vs India Test Match, it's a weekend set to bring both opportunity and pressure for businesses and services.
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00:00Between the 4th and 6th of July, Birmingham streets are expected to be filled with more than 200,000 visitors,
00:07all drawn in by a rare cultural clash, three major concerts, a test match and a packed calendar of spin-off events.
00:15The biggest draw will be Black Sabbath's long-awaited final reunion gig at Villa Park,
00:20Ozzy Osbourne's last performance joined by the additional line-up.
00:24That alone is set to fill the stadium to its 40,000 capacity, with many more fans descending just to be a part of the moment.
00:33Meanwhile, over at the Utilita Arena, Jeff Lynne's ELO will be performing two farewell concerts, also expected to sell out.
00:41And just down the road, Billy Ocean brings his greatest hits to the BP Pulse Arena, which holds more than 15,000.
00:49Add to that, Edgbaston Stadium hosting England versus India in a men's test match, and you've got a perfect storm of footfall, congestion and cash flow.
00:59Local hotels are already reporting limited availability.
01:03Bars and restaurants will be hoping to cash in, but pressure on staffing, stock and transport is inevitable.
01:10Across the city, smaller venues are also getting involved, planning themed nights and fan events to ride the wave of hype.
01:17And while the buzz could bring a welcome lift to Birmingham's economy, it's also a test whether the city's infrastructure is fit for purpose.
01:25With the bin strike still rumbling in the background and limited updates from the council on coordination or crowd management,
01:32some fear that the weekend could expose cracks in how we plan for growth.
01:37For Birmingham, this could be a moment to shine, or a warning light for what happens when success outpaces its strategy.