Wrexham stadium name, cost, capacity and expansion plans as Ryan Reynolds club aims for Premier League
Wrexham’s rise from non-league obscurity to the chase for Premier League promotion has been beguiling.
For fans of one of the oldest football club’s in the world, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny’s ownership has been a blessing. The investment has helped to lift Wrexham out of profound difficulties and propel them towards playing Premier League football for the very first time.
It has also brought a renewed interest in the city and surrounding region. The hugely popular Welcome To Wrexham documentary has charted the team’s progress since the 2020 takeover and found engagement from a much wider audience, which means more people than ever want to go to watch the team play.
That is why Wrexham plan to develop their famous old stadium and create both a top-class sports facility and tourist destination — one that will highlight “the key role the football club can play in the rejuvenation and redevelopment of the city”.
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Wrexham stadium name
Wrexham’s stadium is officially called STōK Cae Ras Stadium due to a sponsorship agreement with STōK, a cold-brew coffee.
It is commonly known in English as the Racecourse Ground, which has been its name since the club was founded in the 1860s. “Cae Ras” is Welsh for “Racecourse”.
The Racecourse Ground takes its name from its former use as a horse-racing venue in the early 19th century, before being solely used for football following Wrexham’s formation.
The stadium has held a number of eye-catching historical records since it began hosting football matches in 1864.
It is the world’s oldest international football arena that still hosts international matches, with more Wales games played there than any other stadium in the country. It was last used by the men’s Wales national team for a friendly against Gibraltar in 2023. The Wales women’s team played a UEFA Nations League group game against Sweden at the Racecourse in February 2025.
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Wrexham stadium capacity
Prior to the 2008 closure of the Kop, the Racecourse Ground could hold 20,000 fans across seated and standing areas.
The closed area significantly reduced the standing space at the stadium, with a minor upgrade in 2013 bringing the capacity up to 10,771.
“For the times, they are a-changin…”
#WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/gIJ4j7Diio
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) January 9, 2023
The proposed expansion of the Kop and redevelopment of the overall stadium is designed to increase the capacity to 18,000.
Speaking in April of 2024, the Hollywood stars admitted they believe the stadium could get to over 50,000 at some point in the future.
“We have a plan in place that would work from stand to stand so, eventually, you get all four sides,” McElhenney told the U.S. entertainment website Collider. “We think we could get between 45,000 and 55,000 people in there.”
Expansion plans for Wrexham stadium
Reynolds and McElhenney have prioritised a stadium upgrade since their arrival in North Wales in 2021 with a capacity upgrade a key requirement for competing in the EFL — and to make it Premier League-ready.
The redevelopment will also allow the stadium to be declared a UEFA Category 4 venue, which would allow it to continue to host international matches, specifically the European Under-19 Championship that takes place in Wales in 2026.
Of the 18,000 spectators the upgraded venue will be able to hold upon completion during the 2026/27 season, 7,750 seats will be made available in the new Kop stand. A planning application for that increase was submitted in July 2025.
The Kop’s exterior brick facade will, according to the club, “pays homage to the city’s ‘Terracottapolis’ nickname” with the colours and textures inspired by the Ruabon brick from the local area.
We are incredibly proud to unveil the designs for the new Kop Stand at the STōK Cae Ras.
Designed by renowned sports architects Populous, the new Kop Stand marks a special moment in the history of our stadium, restoring its traditional four-sided enclosure.
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) February 3, 2025
It is hoped that the construction work will be completed at some point in the 2026/27 season, although some of the wider infrastructure may take longer to finish. The stadium upgrade is part of the Wrexham Gateway project, which also includes new office builds and improvement to transport networks.
“When we submitted the revised designs for the new Kop Stand earlier this year, the intention was always to future proof the SToK Cae Ras 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,” said CEO Michael Williamson in 2025.
“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.”
How much will the expansion cost?
The estimated overall cost of the Racecourse Ground expansion and redevelopment is £90-90 million ($99-112 million) with 50% of the project financed by public funding.
The Welsh Government reportedly pledged £25m ($31.2m) to the funding pot, which will also redevelop the area around the stadium and transport links from Wrexham General train station.
