Soccer itself is no less than an emotion, and celebrity presence can add more flavors to it. When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over Wrexham in 2021, fans have been flocking to see the Red Dragons play on the road. Ten of the twenty-three National League clubs saw their greatest attendance of the season in the 2022-2023 matchup with Wrexham. In League Two the previous season, the Reds’ visits drew the most home crowds for 14 of the 23 clubs.
It’s becoming quite the feature of late, with several unlucky fans missing out to see the Reds. A few years ago, a match with Wrexham would pass by a lot of people. Nowadays, the game is a Hollywood affair. In the recent match between Wrexham and Birmingham, almost 30,000 fans gathered at the St. Andrew’s Stadium on Monday for the League One soccer match. Along with some of the biggest stars from sports, film, and television in attendance.
While scouting Leyton Orient, their opponents this weekend, Phil Parkinson noticed an upsurge in ticket demand when the team played away. The Reds’ manager acknowledged that there was a lot of discussion about the Wrexham game over the weekend.
Parkinson said, “I think we are used to it. The difference this year is it’s on a bigger scale. When I went down to Orient Peterborough on Tuesday, there was a lot of talk about the game coming up, and I was thinking—you’ve got a game tonight—to be fair to them, the Orient lads certainly weren’t distracted as they played really well.”
“That’s what it’s been about for the last three years. Wrexham coming to town, the demand for tickets goes up a level, and everyone wants to get one over on us,” added the Welsh team’s coach.
Ownership in football clubs is a lucrative business, despite it being a long-game investment that can take years to see financial returns. Therefore, Hollywood stars have the means to wait it out. It’s also a decent move from a marketing standpoint.
Parkinson warns Wrexham players to be ready, but why?
Parkinson warned his team that every player’s presence will be required due to Wrexham’s packed schedule of games in the upcoming weeks. They face Leyton Orient in the league this weekend before taking on Stevenage on Tuesday. Wrexham then play Northampton Town the following Saturday, before a clash with Wolves’ Under-21s that Tuesday. Four days later, they will face Lincoln City.
Parkinson says to reporters: “It’s the start of a busy period for us. All the squad is going to be utilized over the next month or so when the games are going to come thick and fast. We’ve had periods like this before, but I’m pleased with the way the squad is shaping up.”
Wrexham’s clash with Leyton Orient kicks off their busy period. They will be desperate to get another three points on the board. However, are you guys enjoying this “Hollywood Affair”?
