Category - News
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham Club Making Major Stadium Change
Welsh soccer club Wrexham A.F.C. has undergone quite the transformation since actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought an ownership stake back in 2020. The team has gained a global reputation thanks to their docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, and now, Wrexham home games are set to look a little different.
On Feb. 3, Wrexham announced plans for a new 5,500-capacity stand at its STōK Racecourse stadium in the center of town. The new Kop stand will comply with UEFA regulations that will allow Wrexham host matches in the European Under-19 Championship next year as well as other international matches in the future. Currently, the Racecourse is the world's oldest soccer stadium hosting international matches that is still in use, more than 150 years after it first opened. The new stand will replace a Kop that has been unused since 2007 and a temporary 2,000-capacity stand that was put up during the team's last season.
"The new Kop Stand marks a special moment in the history of the STōK [Racecourse], allowing us to restore the traditional four-sided enclosure of the stadium, providing new and improved facilities and experiences for our fans and visitors to the stadium alike," Wrexham A.F.C. CEO Michael Williamson said in a statement.
The structure is an architectural and cultural homage to the city and region, complete with an external brick façade honoring the city's "Terracottapolis" nickname with color and textures resembling the historic Ruabon red brick from the nearby village.
"The distinctive design of the new Kop Stand embodies the history and heritage of Wrexham, rooted in the local community creating a timeless, authentic piece of civic architecture that complements other landmarks," Williamson added. "It will provide an iconic landmark standing at the gateway to the city, giving it a true sense of place."
Wrexham will face off against Port Vale F.C. tomorrow in the third round of the EFL Trophy tournament.