Ryan Reynolds' stunning Wrexham stadium plans are revealed with new 5,500-capacity Kop stand as League One club bids to host Wales fixtures

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Wrexham have unveiled plans for a new Kop Stand at their SToK Racecourse home and believe its construction will lead to them staging regular Wales matches again.

The club, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, submitted a new planning application to Wrexham Council on Monday for the 5,500-capacity development.

The Racecourse is the world's oldest international football stadium that still hosts matches, having staged its first Wales home game in 1877, but the men's national team have only played two low-profile friendlies there since 2009.

Wrexham's historic ground only holds around 12,600 fans at present, with a temporary stand currently on the derelict Kop end behind one goal.

More than £17million of public funding has been secured from the Welsh government to support the new Kop which has been designed by Populous, who worked on Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

The proposals include safe standing, hospitality suites, and accessible seating. The architects said the roof design aims to boost the atmosphere on matchdays by amplifying sound from supporters towards the pitch. 

Wrexham hope that their new stadium will be ready to open by the summer of 2026

Co-owner Ryan Reynolds has overseen back-to-back promotions since buying Wrexham with Rob McElhenney in 2021 and the club are in the play-off spots to go up to the Championship

The proposals for the stand include safe standing, hospitality suites, and accessible seating

Populous' design for the new Kop stand includes two dragons as seen on the club crest

Two dragons from the club's crest are prominently embossed into the brick facade at one corner of the stand. 

Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson told the club website: 'The new Kop Stand marks a special moment in the history of the SToK Cae Ras, allowing us to restore the traditional four-sided enclosure of the stadium, providing new and improved facilities and experiences for our fans and visitors to the stadium alike.

'It will provide an iconic landmark standing at the gateway to the city giving it a true sense of place.

'The upgrading of facilities to meet UEFA Category 4 specifications are central to our wider vision of bringing international sport back to Wrexham and the benefit this will bring to the local community of hosting these events in North Wales.'

Reynolds and McElhenney, who bought the North Wales club in February 2021 and have overseen back-to-back promotions, said nine months ago that the capacity of the stadium could be increased to between 45,000 and 55,000.

The project has faced numerous delays, but Williamson said he's confident the new stand will be ready by the summer of 2026.