Major sporting event heading to Wolverhampton – find out more here
Wolverhampton's Market Square has been fenced off as it gets ready to host a major international sporting event.
More than 100,000 spectators are expected to attend the Urban Sports FISE Xperience set to take place in Wolverhampton's Market Square between September 13 and 15.
The event will see breaking (also known as break dancing), BMX freestyle and scooter freestyle come to Wolverhampton in a competition reminiscent of the popular X Games, an extreme sports competition consisting of alternative sports like snowboarding, freestyle motocross and skateboarding.
The extreme sports event has meant that Market Square has been closed off while preparations take place, with heavy machinery, lighting systems and various pieces of equipment being seen on site.
Ravinder Singh, 32, of Wolverhampton, said: "It's going to look great I think. I was a bit concerned when I first saw it all, I thought they were building a new building there or something. But a sports competition will be great.
"I'm definitely going to attend. You don't normally get to see those types of sports going on so, it will be a good experience."
The council announced that they would play host to the major international sporting event after securing £390,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority and HM Government's Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund.
The event will form part of Wolverhampton Council's five-year events strategy, with the FISE Xperience expected to bring more than 100,000 visitors to the city.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, the council's cabinet member for visitor city, said: "This is a huge shot in the arm for our exciting five year events strategy, helping to secure the city’s status and reputation regionally, nationally and internationally as a destination of choice for visitors.
"Figures from the West Midlands Growth Company's STEAM report showed the visitor economy of the city in 2022 was up 21 per cent to £400 million and the city attracted 10 million visitors.
"The Urban Sports event will further boost footfall, increase economic and social benefit and help transform the reputation of the city."
The closure of Market Square is expected to be in place until the games take place on the 14th, with residents able to use the public footpaths to walk around the works.
More information on the games can be found on the FISE website.