Wrexham AFC are once again challenging at the top end of the table. Their first season back in League One (Third division) has seen them climb up to the third spot with seven wins so far. The Welsh club has enjoyed a renaissance, achieving back-to-back promotions under coach Phil Parkinson. While he has changed the club’s fortunes on the pitch, off it, the club’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have continued their efforts to boost the club’s profile.

Apart from signing a number of key players that have propelled the Red Dragons from the fifth tier of English football to the third in two years, their celebrity owners have taken a more holistic approach, to developing the club’s infrastructure. The club’s pitch has been in pristine condition, which has led to their incredible home record having lost just three times last season en route to promotion.

Now, the Hollywood owners have set out to make another move that will further enhance the club’s profile. Reynolds and McElhenney have to boost home advantage at Wrexham by teaming up with world-renowned sports architecture practice “Populous” to overhaul the Welsh club’s Kop stand.

The new 5,500-capacity Kop stand at the STōK Cae Ras stadium would provide safe standing space, hospitality, and accessible seating. Currently, the stadium houses roughly 12,600 fans and a brand new Kop stand would not only increase the capacity but generate additional revenue, further securing the club’s long-term financial status. The Kop stand has not been in use since 2007.

Speaking on the move, Wrexham AFC chief executive officer, Michael Williamson said, “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.”

Populous have designed a number of soccer stadiums across the globe including the UK’s iconic Wembley Stadium, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, among others. The company also has US links and have designed numerous MLS stadiums as well including the Audi Field, the home of the MLS side DC United and Minnesota United’s Allianz Field.

This move seems in line with the long-term ambitious plans of the owners to increase the stadium capacity to an astounding 55,000. The plans to develop a new Kop stand will lead to a better atmosphere and provide a more hostile environment for the opponents thus giving them an edge. If you think, this is a far-fetched conclusion, you only have to look at what they did last season.

Last season, while the plans for a new Kop stand were ongoing Wrexham installed a temporary 2,289-seat stand during their League Two campaign with the push coming from both McElhenney and Reynolds. There was significant opposition to the move, but the owners wanted to have more fans in went ahead with the plan. In order to avoid pricing out the locals, Reynolds and McElhenney decided to personally take a £360,000 ($500k) hit.

The temporary stand was opened for fans on on December 23, for their home clash against Newport County. At that time, McElhenney claimed that despite the difficult financial decision it would assist their push for back-to-back promotions due to the added crowd noise generating a better atmosphere. The owners were vindicated as the club returned to the third tier for the first time since 2005.

Apart from the new Kop, the club reworked its pitch. Ryan Reynolds insisted that the new pitch provide optimal playing conditions for his roster, which resulted in the installation of one of the new pitches at a cost close to half a million dollars. Despite being expensive, this investment is consistent with the club’s grand vision and its intention of winning on the pitch.

Meanwhile, away from the off-field developments, the ambition of the owners will be reflected again in the transfer window.

‘I am sure..”-A thrilling transfer prediction for Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds of Wrexham

After spending the last 15 years in the National League, Wrexham is now comfortably a third-tier side, and it was important that manager Phil Parkinson could strengthen his team this summer. The team has managed to break its transfer record twice since being under the Hollywood owners, which was great given they were not afraid of spending bucket loads.

Wrexham broke its transfer record to sign Ollie Rathbone from Rotherham United in August paying their League One rivals £500,000. Wrexham smashed their club record merely a few weeks later when they spent £590,000 to bring in Modou Faal from West Bromwich Albion. Carlton Palmer, a former player who is now an EFL commentator, discussed the Ryan Barnett transfer speculations with FLW and said that McElhenney and Reynolds will “go again” during the January transfer window.

He said, “I am sure the owners will go again in January, and there is not a cat in hell’s chance that Wrexham will sell a player who is very integral to the way they play and the way they look to set up.”

If Wrexham decides to add players in January, they could be eyeing a third promotion in as many years. If they achieve that, we could see the plans of Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney taking a bold new direction.