Wrexham's £70m Kop stand approved to raise Racecourse capacity above 18,000
October 7, 2026 08:10
Wrexham's redevelopment of the Kop at the Racecourse has received official approval from Wrexham County Borough Council, the club says. The £70m project will add 7,500 seats and push the ground's capacity to more than 18,000, while incorporating dressing-room areas, media provision and hospitality space.
KEY CONTEXT
The Racecourse is described in club material as the oldest international football ground still in use. The Kop stand had been derelict for years before the current redevelopment. Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac completed their takeover of the club from Wrexham Supporters' Trust in February 2022. Since then, the team has achieved three successive promotions to reach the Championship and narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season.
THE CLUB'S AIM
Wrexham say the new stand, together with previously completed improvements, will make the Racecourse fit for the Premier League should the team achieve promotion. The stand is scheduled to be fully operational by the start of next season; a project caption alongside club coverage also describes it as on course to open for the 2027-28 season.
STRATEGY AND COMMUNITY
Aidan Miller, Wrexham's chief strategy officer, who is overseeing the build, framed the work as part of preparing the club for higher levels of competition. "The speed at which we've got through the leagues has been incredible," he told BBC Sport Wales. "We are playing catch-up and we're trying to make ourselves ready for the next level." Miller also highlighted the wider impact of the owners' investment, saying the optimism and buzz are visible around the stadium and the city.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
With local authority approval now granted, the club intends to progress construction so the Kop is available in line with the stated schedule.