The Commonwealth Games’ popular ‘Raging Bull’ is a massive moving sculpture that will make its new home at Birmingham New Street this summer. Prior to the Bull’s arrival, Network Rail and the West Midlands Combined Authority have launched a nationwide naming competition in order to give it a permanent name.

The competition will take place over the next two weeks, with members of the public able to email name suggestions to [email protected].

Wednesday the 7th of June will see the top names shortlisted before a public vote is held and the final name revealed on Friday the 23rd of June ahead of the impressive creation’s official unveiling which will take place at the latter end of July.

‘Raging Bull’ was extremely popular during the Commonwealth Games last year and will be located on the station’s concourse. The sculpture is currently undergoing work which will make it suitable for its new location by Artem, who are the special effects designers who originally built the bull. The fantastic beast will see re-moulding carried out in order to meet fire regulations and will see an array of exciting new mechanical features which will see its head, eyes and tail move as they did at the Games.

Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, chair of Network Rail, said:“Much work has been going on to get the bull ready for its new home at Birmingham New Street, where it will be a towering piece of art admired by the thousands of people who use the station every day.

“As the internationally recognised symbol of the hugely successful Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer, for which the railway family worked hard to make travel to and from the Games a success, Network Rail is honoured to be entrusted with this much-loved icon for public display.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:“Thanks to Network Rail’s sterling efforts, the bull will soon have a permanent home back in Birmingham. It’s brilliant news that such a treasure will soon be returned – one that so perfectly captured the spirit of the 2022 Commonwealth Games we were so fortunate to play host to. As well as being a delightful attraction for tourists and local people to marvel at and enjoy, the bull will always be a reminder of our success – spurring us on to even greater heights in the months and years ahead. I cannot wait to see it back home and I’m sure residents right across our region feel the same.”

Mike Kelt, CEO of special effects company Artem, said:“It has been an honour to remake the Bull so it can live on to remind everyone of the Commonwealth experience and the fantastic history that is locked up in Birmingham’s past.”

It is expected that the bull will be finalised over the coming weeks and will be moved to Birmingham, where it will be reassembled ahead of its official unveiling, which also marks the first anniversary of the Commonwealth Games.