The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, the world’s oldest international stadium, is set for a name change. Next season, it will be rebranded as the SToK Racecourse, marking the first time the ground has had a title sponsor.
Wrexham’s owners, Ryan Reynolds, and Rob McElhenney, announced the deal on social media Thursday morning.
“We wanted a stadium sponsor that captured the vitality and energy of Wrexham Association Football Club while also, like Welsh, being a bit of a learning experience to say. STōK Cold Brew Coffee fit the bill perfectly. We’re incredibly excited and a little over-caffeinated,” the two said in a statement.
Since 1864, the stadium has been the home ground of Wrexham and hosted Wales’ inaugural home international match in 1877. The Racecourse Ground is officially the oldest international football stadium in the world that still hosts competitions.
The title sponsorship comes as part of a deal with SToK Cold Brew Coffee and coincides with Wrexham’s return to the English Football League after a 15-year absence. In addition, the stadium is undergoing expansion with a new 5,000-seat stand, boosting its capacity to 15,000.
On top of the stadium sponsorship, Wrexham has announced that beverage company Betty Buzz, owned by Reynold’s wife, Blake Lively, will also sponsor the team’s training kit for the 23/24 season.
Wrexham continues to build an international fanbase
Wrexham’s global popularity has soared, especially in the United States, since Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney snagged the club for $2.5 million in 2021. The club’s growth continues to piggyback on the commercial success of its hit FX TV series, Welcome to Wrexham.
The team recently celebrated its new promotion with an earned Last Vegas trip. They will also play in America this summer, touring against Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Reynolds and McElhenney will suit up for Wrexham to play in the 7-v-7 competition called The Soccer Tournament this summer.
From June 1-4, 32 teams will compete in the first-ever event in Cary, North Carolina. If Wrexham wins, they have pledged to donate 50% of the $1 million prize money to support the local community.
Photo: Twitter/Wrexham_AFC
