Wrexham's Hollywood takeover fuels economic boom
Wrexham's fortunes on and off the pitch have flourished since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds's takeover of the club (Oli SCARFF) Wrexham's fairytale rise since a takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has not been limited to on-pitch success as a wave of new fans from around the globe has fuelled an economic boom in north Wales. Just over five years ago, the Red Dragons languished in the fifth tier of English football before Reynolds and McElhenney's arrival in a city of under 150,000 people had a transformative effect for both the club and local businesses. Wrexham are now battling for promotion to the Premier League after an unprecedented three consecutive promotions and also gave Chelsea a scare before losing in the FA Cup earlier this season.
A documentary series titled 'Welcome to Wrexham' has charted that rise and resulted in an influx of North American visitors that has doubled tourism income to £200 million ($271 million) a year. "We are pretty much double and I think that's conservative, it could be even three times the size," said Sam Regan, owner of the Lemon Tree hotel and restaurant and chair of tourist body 'This is Wrecsam'. "Year round now about 20 percent of my accommodation is filled with American and Canadian guests, but when the home games are on, pretty much 80 percent is international visitors.
" Sitting next to the club's Racecourse Ground, the beer garden of The Turf pub was teeming with accents from Virginia to Vancouver on a glorious spring evening before the visit of Southampton. Yet, there is little sign of resentment from those who long suffered watching Wrexham before "the Rob and Ryan effect" took hold. "Every business around here now feels the buzz of Wrexham," says James Townshend, a 30-year-old sales trainer and lifelong local fan of the club.
"Wrexham wouldn't be where they are now (without them), so we have to embrace and appreciate what these fans are bringing to the area. " Becki Hendricks is on her seventh trip to the area from Virgina. Having initially mistaken 'Welcome to Wrexham' as a "spoof", she and her husband are even considering moving across the Atlantic to settle in Wales.
"We started with the documentary, yes. My life-long friends are here now," said the 51-year-old programme analyst. "Wrexham is a part of our hearts and part of our souls now.