Who is Wrexham AFC?
How did a little known club in Whales gain so much popularity so quickly?
Wrexham is a Welsh club that is now positioned in the 4th level of UK football. Two well-known actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham Association Football Club (AFC) for $2.5 million.
Someone on the Reynolds and McElhenney team came up with the brilliant idea of creating a documentary series to follow the team. They followed the initial negotiations, investment and the team’s rise back to prominence.
The docuseries introduces the viewers to not only the players, but the staff and fans as well. You learn their names, and their stories. I can attest that you feel personally invested in this club and its supporters.
Viewers shared in the sorrow last year as they narrowly missed being promoted. This year, they were able to celebrate as Wrexham was promoted to League Two.
This is the fourth tier of the English football league. Reynolds and McElhenney have a goal of watching the team work their way up to the Premier League.
Since the docu-series, the love for the team has been invigorated. Wrexham AFC now boasts a global fanbase. Their season ticket sales have increased and their presence on social media has sky rocketed. In fact, the ESPN debut of Wrexham had about 89,000 viewers. This is a larger viewership than seen by some MLS teams for their games!
Changes to the Club
McElhenney and Reynolds have also made a number of high-profile changes. These include hiring the prior Liverpool CEO Peter Moore as a consultant. They are also building a new training facility for the team. This past year, they started demolishing a portion of their well-known Racecourse Ground Stadium with the plan of adding an additional 5,500 seats. The team is continuing to play games at the Racecourse Stadium despite the construction.
The takeover has brought increased attention and excitement to the club, with Reynolds and McElhenney promising to invest in the team and bring new energy and ideas to Wrexham AFC. The pair have expressed their commitment to the club and its fans, stating that they want to build a strong and sustainable future for the team.
McElhenney and Reynolds have also made a number of high-profile changes. These include hiring the prior Liverpool CEO Peter Moore as a consultant. They are also building a new training facility for the team. This past year, they started demolishing a portion of their well-known Racecourse Ground Stadium with the plan of adding an additional 5,500 seats. The team is continuing to play games at the Racecourse Stadium despite the construction.
Many Small and Medium Clubs Suffering Since COVID
Since COVID, hundreds of small and even mid-sized clubs have been struggling to maintain operations. Without fans in their seats, many had to struggle to maintain their coffers. As more and more of these clubs are available for sale, the interest in owning one grows across the pond. In US dollars, some of these can be bought for significantly less than a US sports team would cost.
Several other celebrities have purchased interests in European soccer clubs. These include Kelly Rippa (“Live with Kelly and Ryan,” and her husband Mark Consuelos, (former actor in “All My Children”. The Rippa-Consuelos team are part-owners of a 5th tier Italian club called A.S.D. Campobasso 1919.
As soccer continues to gain popularity in the US, we can expect to see even more celebrities investing in clubs. What will be interesting to follow is if they put their money on US clubs or go foreign.
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