August 6 – Ryan Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenny’s AFC Wrexham project is taking shape. Having flown up the English football Pyramid to the second tier following back-to-back-to-back promotions, the club are now eyeing off-pitch upgrades to keep pace with their new competitors.
The club has now submitted a new planning application to Wrexham City Borough Council to add up to 2,250 more seats to the new Kop Stand at the STōK Cae Ras stadium. Since the club’s celebrity takeover and subsequent Disney Plus documentary, filling the 12,600-seater stadium has not been an issue.
This application follows the earlier approval in March 2025 for 5,500 seats, bringing the potential total for the Kop to 7,750. The added seating is part of Wrexham’s wider plan to upgrade the stadium to meet international standards and host major matches, including games in the UEFA Under-19 European Championship in 2026. It will also help to appease the club’s booming tourism appeal – growing off the back of the Welcome to Wrexham tv series – whilst opening more space for long-time fans and locals, too.
The expanded design includes a second tier of seating and meets UEFA Category 4 requirements. Once complete, the stadium’s overall capacity will rise to just over 18,000, making it the largest in North Wales.
The updated plans also include solar panels on the roof as part of the club’s push for sustainability.
Wrexham’s Head of Operations, Michael Williamson, said the goal is to future-proof the ground and build a stand that honours the stadium’s legacy while accommodating more fans for years to come.
“When we submitted the revised designs for the new Kop Stand earlier this year the intention was always to future-proof the STōK Cae Ras Stadium so that it could hold international matches for many years to come thus remaining true to its legacy as the oldest international ground still in use,” he said.
“With the additional seats that were planned into the revised designs we intend to maximise the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop a new and iconic Kop Stand that can accommodate a maximum number of fans for years to come.”
The club look set for some on-pitch improvement, too. Wales international Kieffer Moore is inbound, whilst they are also poised to secure the signing of talented Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas.
They were also rumoured to have an interest in English veteran striker Jamie Vardy, though it appears they have opted for Moore instead.
Wrexham open their season on Saturday in the Championship, England’s second tier, away to Southampton who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]