October 30 – Wrexham AFC have appointed world-leading stadium architects Populous to develop a masterplan for the club’s STōK Cae Ras Stadium (the racecourse Ground), starting with the redesign of the new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand.
Fuelled by its Hollywood ownership duo of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney alongside a hugely successful documentary series that debuted on FX in the US in 2022 and is now in its third series with a fourth in production, the Welsh club playing in the English leagues has become a huge success story.
Now reckoned to be the most followed club in the US, ahead of the Premier League giants, the docu-series has given the club and the town a wider following to casual football fans in the US than just its on-pitch performances. The series received critical acclaim, winning two Critics’s Choice Television Awards and eight Primetime Emmy Awards.
More than 5,000 homes subscribe to watch Wrexham games live in the US.
Wrexham are literally building on that popularity with the. long-term development of their 12,600-seater stadium.
The development will take the ground’s capacity to over 15,000 in a bid to keep up with the new demand for tickets generated by the club’s rapidly growing tourism appeal of the back of the TV series,
Michael Williamson, Wrexham AFC Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are determined to ensure the new Kop stand and the future vision of the STōK Cae Ras satisfies the needs and expectations of our fans and the local community, and the appointment of Populous as architect for the redesign reflects that.
“We appreciate the efforts of those who have worked on this project to date, allowing us to now focus our attention on the activation of areas within the new stand, while remaining consistent with the capacity and volume that was previously presented.
“We look forward to engaging with fans and the local community as plans and designs for the stand take shape, along with other stakeholders and strategic partners including Wrexham County Borough Council, our Wrexham Gateway partners, Wrexham University, the Welsh Government, and the FA of Wales. This is an exciting time for the Club, our supporters and the City as we continue our upward momentum.”
The Wrexham storyline is continuously moving on the field as well, with the club having risen from the National League in 2020 when Reynolds and McElhenney took over, to third place in England’s League 1 and with a good shot at winning promotion to the Championship, the league below the top tier of the Premier League.
Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, added, “We’re extremely proud to be appointed to work on the new Kop stand and to explore the potential for a wider vision and masterplan for the future STōK Cae Ras.
“Our aim is to create a home for Wrexham’s passionate fans and the community that pays tribute to the heritage and traditions of the Club and the City itself. The Kop stand will be the epicentre of the atmosphere at the ground on matchday, while incorporating enhanced facilities that can be used every day throughout the year.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734918881labto1734918881ofdlr1734918881owedi1734918881sni@g1734918881niwe.1734918881yrrah1734918881