Wrexham Association Football Club, the Welsh side owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has been awarded close to £18 million in public funds to support the major redevelopment of its stadium.
A Phased Injection of Public Money
The financial support from taxpayers has been granted in two significant tranches. The first instalment of £3.8 million was provided by Wrexham County Borough Council in 2022, a year after the celebrity takeover. This was followed by a much larger grant of £14 million, awarded in September of this year. The funds are channelled through the council via a central grant from the Welsh Government.
The club's primary focus for the investment is the construction of a new Kop Stand at the historic Racecourse Ground, alongside upgrades to the pitch and floodlighting. This forms part of the broader £25 million Wrexham Gateway regeneration scheme, although it was not previously clear that the majority of the state aid would be directed straight to the football club.
Overcoming "Market Failure" for Economic Gain
According to council documents reported by The Times, the substantial subsidy was deemed necessary because there was "no incentive for the private sector to pursue the project" alone. The funding is intended to overcome this perceived market failure and stimulate the local economy.
A spokesperson for Wrexham AFC stated that the stadium improvements and the subsequent ability to host international sporting events in North Wales will act as a catalyst for job creation. They emphasised the project would provide "an overall economic uplift to the region" due to increased visitor numbers and their spending.
Ambitions for International Football and Future Growth
The Welsh Government affirmed that public money will make the crucial difference in upgrading the venue from meeting league requirements to satisfying stricter international fixture standards. The Racecourse Ground is the world's oldest international football stadium, having first hosted a Wales match in 1877, but it has seen limited use by the national team in recent decades.
This funding follows a previous rejection for UK Government Levelling Up money in January, which forced the club to seek alternative financing. The current project unfolds in two phases:
- Phase One: Focuses on the new Kop stand, a hotel, conference facilities, and club offices.
- Phase Two: Aims to redevelop the area around Wrexham General Station to improve prospects for hosting high-profile events.
The club's remarkable rise on the pitch, achieving three consecutive promotions to the Championship, has been mirrored by financial growth. Accounts show turnover skyrocketed to £26.7 million for the year ending June 2024, up from £10.5 million the previous year, boosted by global interest from the "Welcome to Wrexham" series and major sponsorship deals.
Approved plans for the new Kop stand initially envisioned a 5,500 capacity, but updated designs in July aimed to increase this to 7,750 seats. This would bring the stadium's total capacity to just over 18,000, with ambitions to meet UEFA Category 4 specifications. Reynolds and McElhenney have previously expressed a long-term vision to expand the ground to hold between 45,000 and 55,000 spectators.
