Commonwealth Games’ Raging Bull gets permanent home in Birmingham City Centre

The raging bull from the Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony will have a permanent home in Birmingham.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street announced today (February 8): “The bull is coming home. The news we’ve all been waiting for - our beloved Commonwealth Games Bull is returning home permanently.”

The bull had been positioned at Centenary Square after the opening ceremony of the games for the public to enjoy. The 10-m tall creation was seen by an estimated four million visitors while it was in its temporary location.

It was moved to a car park in Ladywood in September 2022 - for maintenance and also while a more permanent home was sought for it.

Now, the mayor has said the raging bull will be stationed at New Street Station from this summer. Street thanked Network Rail “for making this happen.”

Network Rail said: “While the Raging Bull is having a winter makeover to ensure it’s fit for its new home and to turn it into a static sculpture, final details are being worked through to make sure the design is compliant with building and fire regulations.

“Then the huge task of relocating the Raging Bull can be set in motion, aiming for a summer 2023 arrival.”

The metalic creature was initially made only for the Commonwealth Games but the residents of Birmingham rallied together to campaign for it to be a permanent fixture in the city - much like the bull outside the Bullring.

The metal bull - weighing a couple of tons - is a symbol of the city’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution.

What the organisers said

Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, chair of Network Rail, said: “As soon as the Raging Bull appeared in the Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony it captivated the nation, cementing itself as an icon for host city Birmingham. When the opportunity came to provide a permanent home for this brilliant artwork, there could be no better place than Birmingham New Street’s huge concourse and atrium, which welcomed 1.4m people during the multi-sport event last summer.

“When the Raging Bull is proudly in place, tens of thousands of people every day will be reminded of the time the best of the West Midlands was on show to the world, as a lasting legacy to the unforgettable Birmingham 2022 Games.”

Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022 said: “The response to the Raging Bull both in Birmingham and beyond was incredible and all Games partners have been keen to ensure that we were able to permanently display this Birmingham 2022 icon in the host city.

“We would like to say a big thank you to Network Rail for taking on ownership and responsibility for the Raging Bull and we hope that his presence will be an ongoing reminder of the superb summer of 2022 and that he will continue to be a key attraction for visitors to Birmingham for years to come.”

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to find a home for the Raging Bull in the heart of the Proud Host City for Birmingham 2022.

“There were many stars during our unforgettable summer of sport and culture – but none were bigger and bolder than the bull. We had five million visitors to the city centre during the period of the Games and the interest has remained at a high level ever since.

“We are shaping plans to recreate the same exciting atmosphere we enjoyed last year because culture is a key part of the Games legacy and we will be announcing more details soon. I can’t wait to see the Bull back in Birmingham in such a prominent place. Congratulations to everyone who has made this happen.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games were a spectacular moment of collective celebration right across our region and nothing captured public imagination quite like that magnificent Bull. That’s why it’s such wonderful news that it will soon be making its triumphant return to Brum - taking pride of place within our iconic New Street Station. My thanks go to Network Rail for helping to make this possible and I look forward to this now beloved Bull being enjoyed, marvelled at and photographed by local people and visitors alike in the months and years ahead.”