STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) – design description

What does the Racecourse Ground expansion project involve?

The expansion plan for one of the oldest stadiums in the world calls for replacing the stand behind the eastern goal, unused since 2008 (known as The Kop), with an entirely new structure.

The new stand will accommodate 7,500 spectators and will be by far the tallest structure at the stadium. It will also be distinguished by a brick facade – the bricks are intended to reference local architecture, while the imaginative layout of five interconnected segments and dragon images on the walls will give the structure a distinctive and original character.

The construction of the new stand will increase the overall stadium capacity to around 18,000 seats and reinforce its status as the most important football venue in North Wales.

Plans for the new stand emerged after Wrexham AFC was taken over by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in early 2021. Under the new owners, the team became something of a phenomenon, achieving three consecutive promotions between 2023 and 2025, while its story was featured in the popular documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.

The old Kop was demolished at the turn of 2022 and 2023, but construction of the new stand did not begin as planned. As a result, a temporary stand was erected on the site at the end of 2023 and remained in place until the summer of 2025. The actual construction of the new stand only began in December 2025 and is expected to be completed in early 2027.

How did the plans for the new stand at Racecourse Ground come about?

What is Racecourse Ground like?

Wrexham AFC is one of the oldest football clubs in the world, while Racecourse Ground, where the team plays, is itself one of the oldest stadiums in the world. Although Wrexham is located in Wales, Wrexham AFC competes in the English league system.

Racecourse Ground remains the largest and most important stadium in North Wales. Its Welsh name is Y Cae Ras, and since 1 July 2023 the venue has carried the commercial name STōK Cae Ras.

What was the situation of Wrexham AFC at the beginning of the 21st century?

Even at the beginning of the 21st century, the future of the historic Racecourse Ground was highly uncertain, when new owners of Wrexham AFC intended to move the club away from the stadium in order to redevelop the site (the relocation was ultimately blocked by a court).

After relegation in 2008, Wrexham AFC spent the next 15 seasons playing at the fifth tier of the league system. At the end of 2011, the club was taken over by the supporters’ association (Wrexham Supporters Trust), which managed to raise significant funds to save it from collapse.

How did the situation of Wrexham AFC change after the club was taken over by new owners in 2021?

At the beginning of 2021, the club was taken over by two Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Interest in Wrexham AFC matches increased significantly, and the club began to achieve sporting success, recording three consecutive promotions between 2023 and 2025 and moving from the fifth to the second tier of the league system.

In addition, Wrexham AFC became the subject of the new series Welcome to Wrexham, which premiered in August 2022 and quickly gained widespread popularity.

Why is a new stand needed at Racecourse Ground?

One of the key goals set by the club’s new owners was to bring back into use the stand behind the eastern goal (known as The Kop), to increase the stadium’s capacity in response to high demand for tickets.

Restoring a stand that had been unused for many years was the most obvious way to expand the stadium’s capacity. Reintroducing The Kop could also create a section dedicated to the club’s most passionate supporters.

What did the old eastern stand at Racecourse Ground look like?

The eastern stand was built in the 1950s by supporters, using wheelbarrows and shovels without the help of heavy machinery. Like many other terraced stands at British stadiums (the most famous being at Anfield in Liverpool), it was given the nickname Spion Kop (or Kop, The Kop, Kop Stand), referencing the Battle of Spion Kop in South Africa in January 1900.

The Kop, partially covered and equipped with concrete steps and distinctive red-and-white railings (in the club’s colours), eventually became the oldest stand at the stadium and the only one offering standing places. Due to not meeting safety requirements, it was closed in 2008.

When was the first design for the new stand at Racecourse Ground created?

Instead of modernising the old Kop, it was decided to demolish it and build a completely new stand. As early as the summer of 2021, the stand’s characteristic railings were removed. In June 2022, the club once again became the owner of the stadium, plans and visualisations of the new stand were made public, and local authorities granted permission for demolition.

The design for the new stand, intended to replace The Kop, was prepared by AFL Architects. The new freestanding stand was planned to accommodate 5,500 spectators, becoming by far the tallest structure at the stadium. From the outside it was to be clad with black panels, referencing Wrexham’s mining heritage.

The first design for the new eastern stand at Racecourse Ground (by AFL Architects) can be seen on a separate subpage

What is happening with the construction of the new eastern stand at Racecourse Ground?

When was the old Kop Stand at Racecourse Ground demolished?

In November 2022, the city approved the plans for the new stand. The old Kop was demolished at the turn of 2022 and 2023.

Why was a temporary stand built at Racecourse Ground?

The new stand was originally scheduled to be ready before the start of the 2024/25 season, but its construction had not begun at all due to “additional complications,” as described by the club.

Despite the stand not being built, the stadium’s floodlight masts were replaced. Three of the four were replaced between April and May 2023, with the final fourth mast replaced in August 2023. On 1 July 2023, the stadium also received its commercial name: STōK Cae Ras.

Due to the delay in the project, the club decided to increase the stadium’s capacity on a provisional basis by constructing a temporary stand behind the eastern goal. The metal structure, built in December 2023, was named Fourth Wall. The stand was uncovered and accommodated 2,289 spectators.

When was the second design for the new stand at Racecourse Ground created?

In October 2024, it was announced that the club had partnered with the well-known architectural firm Populous, which took over the design of the new Kop (the previous concept by AFL Architects was ultimately abandoned).

The Populous concept for the new Kop was made public on 3 February 2025. The new design is more ambitious and visually striking than the previous one. In early March 2025, local authorities approved the updated plans.

During the summer break of 2025, the temporary stand was demolished, the pitch was replaced, and a heating system was installed. At the same time, it was decided that the new stand would accommodate 7,500 spectators, 2,000 more than initially planned.

When will the new stand at Racecourse Ground be completed?

In September 2025, McLaren Construction was appointed as the main contractor for the new stand. After preparatory works, the groundbreaking ceremony took place on 4 December 2025, symbolically marking the start of the actual construction.

The new stand is expected to be completed in early 2027. The estimated cost of the project is £80–90 million.

A detailed coverage of the construction of the new eastern stand at Racecourse Ground can be found on a separate subpage

Are further investments planned at Racecourse Ground?

The club is considering possibilities for further stadium expansion (there have even been suggestions that capacity could reach around 50,000 seats), although work on the remaining stands may be more difficult due to limited space.

What does the new stand project at Racecourse Ground include?

The new stand behind the eastern goal will accommodate 7,500 spectators. It will feature seating, safe standing areas, and hospitality zones for premium guests. The stand will be equipped with extensive facilities, a full roof, and a large screen mounted under the roof.

The new Kop will serve as the home for the club’s most passionate supporters and has been designed to maximize acoustic impact.

The stand will also stand out for its unique exterior design. The building will be crowned with glass walls, but in front of them there will be an additional decorative facade made of five brick, openwork segments.

The brick facade references local architecture as well as the region’s industrial heritage, which is known for brickmaking, particularly in the nearby village of Ruabon (so-called “Ruabon red brick”).

The pattern in which the bricks are laid refers to a common local masonry technique (the Flemish bond). The southeastern corner walls will feature depictions of two dragons from the club’s crest.

In front of the stand, a public square will be created to serve as a community gathering place, transforming into a fan zone on matchdays. The square will also include a memorial in the form of a mining wheel, dedicated to the 266 victims of the 1934 Gresford Colliery disaster.

The construction of the new stand will increase the stadium’s capacity to around 18,000 spectators and reinforce its status as the most important football venue in North Wales. After the expansion, the stadium is also expected to meet UEFA Category 4 requirements.