Wrexham stadium expansion: Fresh details emerge of reworked Kop End

Wrexham stadium expansion has finally gotten the good news many fans had hoped for, as owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney provided a huge update to fans at a supporter meet on Monday.

Details of the revised proposals for a new stand at the Kop End of the Racecourse Ground have come to light following a recent meeting with fan groups. Due to the high demand for tickets after the global success of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, they are now considering increasing the stand from 5,500 seats to 7,000 seats.

The stadium project, which was put on hold while the club made more ambitious plans, will now look to push forward in 2025.

Wrexham stadium expansion makes a huge step forward

The Wrexham club advisory board meeting indicated that two additional phases are planned for the upcoming years, with the 4,200-capacity Wrexham Lager Stand set to be one of the next areas to be worked on.

New architects were appointed in October 2024 to oversee the new, more ambitious plans. Populous will now lead the project, best known for their work on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Longer-term, the plan is to expand the stadium to be 55,000 seats, placing it well inside the top 10 currently in England. ‘We have a plan in place right now that would eventually work from stand to stand. So eventually, you get all four sides, and it's hard to say for sure, but we think we could get between 45,000 and 55,000 people in there.‘ Said co-owner Rob McElhenney.

More funding for Wrexham stadium expansion

The Welsh government has provided over £17 million in public funding to support the new Kop, but an updated planning application will be needed for the new capacity. Despite facing several setbacks, club chief executive Michael Williamson is optimistic that the new stand will be completed by summer 2026. This would allow Wrexham to host part of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship next year.

Both Reynolds and McElhenney have expressed their frustrations with planning bureaucracy, with McElhenney noting, ‘It's definitely a comedic point of consternation in the show (Welcome to Wrexham), how often we're running up against bureaucracy. Of course, safety concerns and regulations are in place for a reason. But then there are some things that seem to be hurdles for hurdles' sake, and it's just a lot harder to build in the U.K. than I've found almost anywhere else in the world.'

The new Kop will be designed to accommodate all fans, featuring provisions for seating, standing, and disabled access. It will also enhance the hospitality experience and transform the space into a “multi-use” facility. Honouring Wrexham's rich history is a key objective, and features such as a hall of fame and a miner’s wheel will celebrate the town's industrial past. Full design details are expected to be released soon.

FGG says: A new dawn for Wrexham

We've all watched the documentary and seen the clubs rise, but the stadium, and icon in itself, is the next piece of that puzzle. Wrexham continues their rise up the English football pyramid, and in 2025, they will be looking to make it three in a row as they aim to make it to the Championship. Improvements to the stadium are a key factor in financing the club's future.

As the club strives to reach the Premier League, the 55,000-seater target will place it in good company in the English stadium capacity chart. Those lofty goals are a pipe dream for now, but these new plans are a step in the right direction for the Welsh club. With their rich owners and rich history, it won't be long until we see Wrexham kick it with the Premier League big boys.