The leader of the Wrexham council has responded to Rob McElhenney’s and Ryan Reynolds’ stadium ambitions.
Wrexham have shown ambition in every area since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds tookover the club in 2021.
From a skyrocketing social media following to improved personnel on the pitch, the Hollywood owners have shown what can be achieved by showing a willingness and a drive to succeed.
McElhenney and Reynolds have also clamoured to improve the Racecourse Ground, with plans in place to build a new Kop stand to accommodate 5,500 spectators.
Although it was reported last September that the new stand wouldn’t be opened before the start of the 2024/25 season, it hasn’t stopped them from dreaming big.
In a recent interview, Reynolds and McElhenney outlined their ambitions to turn the STōK Cae Ras into a 55,000-seater stadium.
While this is a long-term vision, Wrexham Council Chief Executive Ian Bancroft has responded to such claims.
Wrexham council respond to Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds stadium plans
Wrexham council are set to make £17 million of Welsh government cash to contribute to the Kop redevelopment project. The overall project has been stated as being in the region of £37.7m.
Given the significant amount of public money and the Hollywood owners recent comments, the Wrexham Council were quizzed on whether there were any huge changes to the plans of the Kop or Racecourse.
Chief Executive Ian Bancroft responded, as per Wrexham.com: “We are not aware of any changes. We are in regular contact to receive updates about those plans. Obviously at this point, there is an agreed project, with a commercial close, with planning permission, and also with a draft grant agreement ready to sign. So that’s that’s where we are at the moment. We’re still in that position.”
McElhenney and Reynolds stadium plan is long-term
There appears to be some confusion between the council and the comments made by McElhenney and Reynolds.
The long-term vision of the club, to create a 45,000 – 55,000 seater stadium, won’t interfere with their current plans to develop the Kop.
Wrexham are still a long way from being able to attract many spectators to matches and only the Premier League would likely bring in a significant number of supporters.
Currently, it seems an unrealistic aim to envisage 55,000 people going to watch the Reds, especially given the population of the town.
But as Reynolds said, he wants the full town to go to a game and that just demonstrates how ambitious they are as people.