Wrexham announce stadium plans as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can’t fulfil promise

Wrexham’s stadium is set to receive a new 5,500-seater stand but it won’t be erected any time soon with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney left to find a workaround

Wrexham AFC, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is facing delays in the construction of a new 5,500-seater Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground. The project, initially scheduled for completion before the 2024-25 season, has been hampered by issues with the contracted company, Buckingham Construction Group, which faced financial difficulties and had to pause work.

As a result, Wrexham announced that the new Kop stand would not be open for the start of the upcoming season, with a projected build period of 12 months from commencement on site. However, several matters need resolution before the construction can begin, and there is currently no confirmed date for starting on-site work.

To address the capacity issue, Wrexham will construct a temporary stand with 2,289 seats. The makeshift stand is expected to be ready for the club’s match against Newport County on December 23. Despite the higher costs of the temporary stand compared to ticket sales revenue, the club’s board prioritized enabling more fans to attend matches and alleviating frustration over ticket availability.

The temporary stand, priced at £20 for adults, £15 for Over-65s/Under-21s, £9 for Under-18s, and £6 for Under-11s, will not have a roof, and fans will be exposed to any inclement weather. The tickets will be made available to members first via the normal sales process once the required licenses are in place.

Reynolds and McElhenney had initially promised to deliver a new stand before the start of the next season, with an estimated budget of $26 million for the entire construction project. The delays highlight the challenges faced by the club in executing their ambitious plans under new ownership.