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The Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham Airport has dismissed the proposal to rename the airport in honor of Ozzy Osbourne, as reported by loudersound. This follows a petition on Change.org, which seeks to rebrand the facility as ‘Ozzy Osbourne International’ after Osbourne‘s death in July. The petition has garnered 76,700 signatures and received support from the Osbourne family, with Ozzy’s daughter Kelly describing the proposed change as an “incredible tribute” to his legacy. However, in an interview with BBC West Midlands on December 4, Birmingham Airport’s CEO, Nick Barton, explicitly rejected the idea. He emphasized that the current name holds significant value for the airport’s development and branding efforts.
Birmingham, amazingly, has an extraordinary list of fantastically influential people, going from historic people like Charles Darwin, as well as Robert Plant and Sir Lenny Henry, but the answer is no.
He notes that Ozzy will receive some acknowledgment at the airport. A mural dedicated to the Black Sabbath vocalist is planned, along with representations of other notable figures from the region.
We know [Ozzy] was an inspiration to so many in our region proving talent, hard work and commitment can take you to all corners of the world and we are committed to honouring his legacy within our terminal space. – Birmingham Airport
Although the airport CEO has firmly rejected the petition, Dan Hudson, the organizer of the campaign, remains resolute. He stated to the BBC that his initiative “continues to go from strength to strength.”
Ozzy passed away on July 22 at the age of 76 due to a heart attack experienced at his residence in Buckinghamshire. He was born in Aston, Birmingham, and often reflected on his working-class origins within the city.
Seventeen days prior to his death, the original members of Black Sabbath performed their farewell concert in Aston at Villa Park, an event titled Back To The Beginning. The announcement of Ozzy’s demise elicited widespread mourning, particularly within Birmingham.
Numerous murals and memorials were created by local residents in tribute. On July 30, his funeral cortege traveled through the city to a private service at his residence, attracting tens of thousands of spectators who gathered to honor his memory.
