Birmingham was named the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in 2017, and after several years of regeneration and preparation, the time has finally come for the UK’s second city to take to the global stage.
And, what better way to celebrate Birmingham than by bringing the infamous King Kong back to his rightful home?
Since the beginning of the year, the Cordia Blackswan team has been working alongside Kong’s original sculptor, Nicholas Monro, and his close family – son, Joe and daughter, Maude – to bring the new and improved iconic gorilla sculpture back to Birmingham in his very own pop-up park: King Kong Park at Great Hampton Row.
Bringing together the local community, visitors, athletes and tourists, this festival-style park will be another opportunity to celebrate the city and the Games. Cordia Blackswan has also been working with local artists, event organisers and one of Birmingham’s biggest independent food operators to host live music and sporting events at the park, as well as street food and drinks stalls throughout the Games.
Gloucestershire-based RoboCarv will be creating a 7m tall King Kong sculpture to form the centrepiece of the park, which will be aesthetically identical to the original gorilla. However, Cordia Blackswan has worked tirelessly with the Monro family to bring a bigger, structurally sound King Kong back to Birmingham, one which will stand the test of time.
With seating and refreshments available and the opportunity to watch live Commonwealth Games events throughout the day, the park will be the perfect place to enjoy the spectacle in an unsaturated area of the city. In addition to this, the park will also provide a running track for visitors to take part in their own sporting events.
The park will take pride of place on Great Hampton Row, amongst Cordia Blackswan’s existing and upcoming developments. From being just a stone’s throw from the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, the park will be easily accessible by train, with St. Paul’s tram station just a two-minute walk away, while Snow Hill train station is a short seven-minute walk and New Street train station is 15-minutes by foot.
Cordia Blackswan’s wider masterplan spans Great Hampton Street and the surrounding areas, featuring nine developments from build-to-rent to Birmingham’s first shared-living scheme.
Marcus Hawley, managing director at Cordia Blackswan, commented: “Our team lives and breathes Birmingham, so we’re committed to helping the city reach its full potential of being a world-class destination. The Commonwealth Games is a one-in-a-generation event, which makes it the perfect time to bring King Kong home.
“Many of us still remember the original Kong, so for those that do, it’s time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first visit to the city, and for those who aren’t familiar with him – we hope you’ll join us in welcoming him back to Birmingham.”
King Kong Park will open on 22nd July, with entertainment running 12pm-11pm everyday until 8th August. To find out more about the park, click here.
With an anticipated footfall of over 52,000, many leading brands are involved in the park. To discuss sponsorship opportunities at the park in more detail, contact [email protected].
Remember to follow King Kong on socials: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.
