Wrexham AFC is poised to submit revised designs for the redevelopment of its STōK Cae Ras stadium.
The League One football club said its review of the project is now suitably advanced to allow for the progression to the next stage of the ambitious plans for the venue historically known as the Racecourse Ground.
This progress follows the issuing of a new brief and October’s subsequent appointment of Populous, as its architect to create a masterplan to future-proof the stadium, which Wrexham AFC has played at since the club’s formation in 1864.
The club said it will submit updated designs for the new 5,500 capacity Kop Stand to Wrexham County Borough Council at the beginning of February. The objective remains for the Kop Stand to be completed in time for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship that is being hosted in Wales in the summer of 2026.
The new Kop Stand, together with other works being planned at the STōK Cae Ras, will make the facility fully compliant with UEFA Category 4 Stadium standards allowing it to serve as a venue for other international events.
In the period since its appointment, Populous has spent time in the city of Wrexham and surrounding local community, gaining feedback and insight into what a new Kop Stand design should feature. The interviews carried out by Populous have been translated into an exterior design that the club believes will “strike a chord” with both the fans and local community.
The club said the new design, which is yet to be revealed, is “steeped in the fabric and history of the local area while bringing an updated, dynamic, fresh look to the STōK Cae Ras”. When finished, Wrexham AFC believes it will deliver a “great space with modern facilities” for fans to enjoy the matchday experience and for the local community to use on non-matchdays.
Declan Sharkey, global director and senior principal at Populous, said: “Our aim is to create a design that is unique to Wrexham, amplifying the atmosphere created by the club’s passionate fans and making them proud to call it home. We envisage a stand that will be a monument for the club and the city, representing the tradition and community that lie at its heart.”
The appointment of Populous came after Wrexham AFC announced in the summer that it was reassessing its stadium redevelopment plans. The Racecourse’s temporary stand has had its capacity increased to around 3,000 seats for the 2024-25 season and will remain in place until work begins on the development of the new Kop.
A 2,289-capacity temporary stand was built midway through last season after it emerged that the new Kop stand would not be open for the start of 2024-25 as originally planned.
Wrexham AFC appointed Populous following a “pause and review” of its plans and a full tender process. The new Kop stand was originally set to take 12 months to complete, with the club having received permission for the project back in November 2022.
Wrexham AFC hopes that the new Kop Stand will act as the catalyst for the wider plans to develop the local area as part of the Wrexham Gateway project together with Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Government, Wrexham University, Transport for Wales and the FA of Wales.
Populous is working on the project alongside Gardiner & Theobald (project management and cost management), Savills (planning consultants) and Buro Happold (engineers). Wrexham AFC had previously worked with AFL Architects on its stadium redevelopment plans.
Wrexham AFC has been owned by Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds since February 2021. The club has achieved back-to-back promotions from the National League and is currently third in League One amid the owners’ long-term ambition to secure Premier League status.
Expansion of the stadium has been a key priority for McElhenney and Reynolds. A year after the pair bought Wrexham, the club reached a heads of terms agreement to purchase the freehold of the Racecourse Ground.
McElhenney has previously expressed an ambition to expand the stadium so that it has a capacity of between 45,000 and 55,000. WalesOnline said the minutes of a club advisory board meeting held last month show two further phases scheduled for the coming years. The 4,200-capacity Wrexham Lager Stand is said to be one of the next areas targeted for redevelopment.
Wrexham AFC CEO, Michael Williamson, added: “The submission of the revised designs for the new Kop Stand is a major milestone for this hugely important project and an intense period of activity will follow in the coming months to complete the new stand for summer 2026.
“Whilst the revised design utilises the original footprint and volume of the earlier approved design, we have strived over these past few months with our partners and design team to masterplan the STōK Cae Ras with the Kop Stand as the first phase. We want to create a stadium which is authentic, organic and in keeping with Wrexham. The design will therefore emphasise materials that reflect the strong heritage and character of Wrexham.
“By incorporating authentic materials, that are locally sourced wherever possible, we will create a sense of place that resonates with the city’s history and identity, ensuring the building is rooted in its environment, both visually and culturally.”
