STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) – design description

What is the Racecourse Ground expansion project in a nutshell?

The expansion of one of the oldest stadiums in the world focuses on the construction of a new stand behind the goal on the east side, known as The Kop, which will be home to Wrexham AFC's most ardent supporters.

Plans for a new stand were drawn up after Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club in early 2021, at which time interest in matches increased significantly, and the team recorded consecutive promotions at a rapid pace. The first concept for the new The Kop was created in 2022 by AFL Architects.

Old The Kop, which had been out of use since 2008, was demolished in late 2022 and early 2023. After the demolition, construction of the new stand was to begin, but work did not start as planned. Instead, only a temporary structure was built in late 2023.

However, the club remained committed to the project and partnered with the renowned Populous studio, which prepared a new concept that was presented in early 2025. According to the new plans, the stand should be ready before the start of the U-19 European Championships, which are scheduled to take place in the summer of 2026.

The new stand is expected to hold 5,500 people and will be the tallest in the stadium. Once it opens, the capacity of the entire stadium will increase to about 16,000 spectators. The club is also looking into the possibility of further expanding the stadium in the future.

A distinctive feature of the new The Kop is expected to be its brick facade, which will give it an original look that references local architecture and the region's industrial heritage.

How did plans to build a new stand at the Racecourse Ground come to be?

How does the Racecourse Ground present itself?

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

Today, the Racecourse Ground remains the largest and most important stadium in north Wales. Its name in Welsh is Y Cae Ras, and as of July 1, 2023, its commercial name is STōK Cae Ras.

How did plans to build a new stand at the Racecourse Ground come about?

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

Back in the early 2000s, the fate of the distinguished Racecourse Ground was still very uncertain when Wrexham AFC's new owners attempted to move it out of their stadium to use the facility for development purposes (the move was eventually blocked by a court).

After relegation in 2008, Wrexham AFC played in the fifth division for the next few years. In late 2011, the club was taken over by a supporters' association (Wrexham Supporters Trust), which managed to raise substantial funds to save the club from collapse.

How has Wrexham AFC's situation changed after it was taken over by new owners in 2021?

Two Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, became the club's new owners in early 2021. Interest in Wrexham AFC's matches increased significantly, and the club began to succeed: in 2023 it was promoted to EFL League Two, and a year later to EFL League One (third tier).

In addition, Wrexham AFC became the protagonist of the new series Welcome to Wrexham, which premiered in August 2022 and became very popular.

Why is a new stand needed at the Racecourse Ground?

One of the most important tasks set by the club's new owners was to bring the stand behind the east goal (known as The Kop) back into use.

Bringing a long-unused stand back to life was the most obvious thing that could be done in a bid to increase the stadium's capacity. Reactivating The Kop could also have created a zone dedicated to the club's most ardent supporters.

How did the old East Stand at the Racecourse Ground look like?

The east stand was erected in the 1950s by fans, using wheelbarrows and shovels, without the aid of heavy equipment. It earned, like many other terraced stands in Britain (the most famous was built at Liverpool's Anfield), the nickname Spion Kop (or Kop, The Kop), in reference to the Battle of Spion Kop in South Africa, which took place in January 1900.

The Kop, partially covered and equipped with concrete steps, with distinctive red and white (the club's colors) railings, over time became the oldest stand in the stadium, the only one with standing room. Due to failing to meet safety requirements, it was taken out of use in 2008.

When was the first project for a new stand at the Racecourse Ground conceived?

Instead of upgrading the old stand, it was decided to demolish it and build it from scratch. Already in the summer of 2021, the characteristic railings were removed from it. In June 2022, the club again became the owner of the stadium, plans and renderings of the new stand were made public, and the local authorities authorized the demolition.

The design for the new stand, to be built in place of The Kop, was developed by AFL Architects. The new free-standing stand was to accommodate 5,500 spectators, becoming by far the tallest in the stadium. It was to be covered on the outside with black panels, in reference to Wrexham's mining traditions.

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

When was the old Kop stand at Racecourse Ground demolished?

In November 2022, the city approved plans to build a new stand. Old The Kop was demolished in late 2022 and early 2023.

Why was a temporary stand built at the Racecourse Ground?

The new stand was supposed to be ready before the start of the 2024/25 season, but its construction did not start at all due to “additional complications”, as the club described it.

Instead of building a new stand, a temporary metal structure was erected behind the east goal in late 2023 to allow more fans to watch games at the stadium. Earlier, floodlight masts were also replaced at the Racecourse Ground.

An account of the initial work carried out at the Racecourse Ground, which included the demolition of the old The Kop and the construction of a temporary stand, is presented on a separate subpage

When was the second project for a new stand at the Racecourse Ground conceived?

Although construction of the new stand behind the goal had not even begun, Wrexham's owners had already begun to float plans to expand the other stands, which would increase the stadium's capacity to around 50,000 seats.

In October 2024, it was announced that the club had partnered with well-known architectural company Populous to design the new The Kop (the previous concept from AFL Architects was eventually abandoned).

The concept for the new The Kop by Populous was made public on February 3, 2025. The new design is more ambitious and visually appealing than the previous one, although it assumes the same capacity (5,500 spectators).

When will the new stand at the Racecourse Ground be built?

In early March 2025, local authorities approved the new plans. Construction is likely to begin over the summer break in 2025, with the new stand expected to be ready in time for the U-19 European Championships, to be held in Wales in the summer of 2026.

Are further investments planned for the Racecourse Ground?

The club is examining options for further expansion of the stadium, although work on the other stands may be more difficult to complete due to limited space.

What does the design of the new stand at the Racecourse Ground entail?

The new stand behind the east goal is to accommodate 5,500 spectators. It will include seating, safe standing areas as well as hospitality zones for more wealthy visitors. The stand will be equipped with extensive backstage facilities, will receive a full canopy, and under the roof a large video screen will be installed.

The new The Kop will be the place from which the most ardent supporters of the local team will cheer, and has been designed to maximize the acoustic experience.

The stand will be distinguished by its unusual exterior design. The building will be crowned with glass walls, but in front of them will be an additional decorative facade created from five brick, openwork segments.

The brick facade is meant to reference local architecture, as well as the industrial heritage of the region, which is known for its brick manufacturing, which was produced particularly in the nearby village of Ruabon (the so-called “Ruabon red brick”).

The pattern in which the bricks are to be laid is a reference to the widely used method of making walls in the region (the so-called “Flemish bond”). The walls in the southeast corner will be festooned with images of the two dragons featured in the club's coat of arms.

A square will be built in front of the stand, which will serve as a meeting place for the local community, and will turn into a space for fans on match days. The plaza is to include a memorial in the form of a wheel from a mine shaft, dedicated to honor the 266 victims of the disaster at the nearby Gresford Colliery mine in 1934.

The construction of a new stand will increase the venue's capacity to around 16,000 spectators and confirm its status as the leading football venue in north Wales. After the expansion, the stadium should also meet UEFA Category 4 requirements.