Wrexham AFC plans additional 2,250 seats in new-look Kop

Having already secured consent for a 5,500-capacity stand at the STōK Cae Ras, the club now wants to increase the size of the project in the hopes of hosting international matches in the future.

The additional 2,250 seats planned would take the overall capacity of Wrexham AFC’s stadium to 18,000 once the project completes.

As well as making the ground more attractive for international fixtures, the enhanced Kop will provide more seats to meet rising demand for tickets.

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have boosted the profile of the club both at home and overseas and three consecutive promotions have landed Wrexham in the Championship, where it can expect higher attendances.

Wrexham’s meteoric rise is reflected in its average attendances. In the 2019/20 season when the club was in the National League the average crowd at STōK Cae Ras was just over 4,000. Last year, as the club won promotion from League One to the Championship, the club averaged 12,700 fans at home games.

Wrexham AFC chief executive Michael Williamson said: “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 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.

“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.“

Populous is the architect behind the plans for the new Kop.

Populous’ recent roster of projects includes the new Wembley, the £1.2bn Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Manchester City’s stadium expansion, along with the 2024-opened Co-op Live gig venue.