Read on Twitter
Why the hell would Ryan Reynolds (and Mac) want to buy Wrexham AFC? A thread 
1/
1/
A couple of years ago I wrote an article titled Wrexham, what a shithole. And now here we are again and people are asking why the hell Deadpool and Rob McElhenney would be interested in buying Wrexham’s football club. 2/ https://link.medium.com/r4caajjZfbb
I remember watching a pre-season hammering of Man City featuring Nicky Summerbee, Kit Symons and Niall Quinn – 6–1 to the rockin’ Robins. Feels like lifetime ago. Long story short, Wrexham AFC are a sleeping giant. 3/
There are four big reasons to consider Wrexham AFC as a big opportunity.
- Current fan base
- Development opportunities
- Future fan base
- Commercial model
4/
- Current fan base
- Development opportunities
- Future fan base
- Commercial model
4/
Current fan base: Wrexham consistently attract a high attendance – higher than half of league 2 and a quarter of league 1 – despite the years of hurt. Their away following is higher than many Championship teams. 5/ https://fanbanter.co.uk/wrexhams-away-following-on-sunday-was-better-than-the-total-attendance-at-nine-of-national-league-matches/
Wrexham fans are amazing, passionate, loud, and very loyal. In the 70s it wasn’t unusual to see crowds of 20,000+. It isn’t unrealistic to expect the same again. 6/
Development opportunities:
The Racecourse has a higher capacity than a recent Premier League team. The Kop is still to be developed – and could give a capacity of 15,000–20,000. 7/
The Racecourse has a higher capacity than a recent Premier League team. The Kop is still to be developed – and could give a capacity of 15,000–20,000. 7/
Wrexham has one of the largest industrial estates in Europe, full of global brands and manufacturing everyday house hold brands. Cutting edge science, and over 8,000 workers. 8/
The dev of the stadium has passed a significant milestone as the council, uni & Welsh Gov have reached an agreement for a major dev to include a new transport hub, & ideas for a football museum which could attract even more visitors to the area. 9/
This is a historic site which deserves more visitors. Wrexham AFC is one of the oldest professional football clubs still active at a high level in the world. Notts County and Stoke are the others formed within months of each other. You can’t buy that kind of history & legacy. 10/
It’s the world’s oldest active international stadium. We don’t get too many Bale and Ramsey appearances (=never) but Earnshaw, Koumas and Ben Woodburn have brought some good nights to the Racecourse. 11/
Future fan base
Now the takeover has had the go ahead, the owners will create profile for the club like nothing else ever could. Fans will be wearing Wrexham shirts in LA and Philadelphia, and movie and TV fans will be keeping an eye out for the results. 12/
Now the takeover has had the go ahead, the owners will create profile for the club like nothing else ever could. Fans will be wearing Wrexham shirts in LA and Philadelphia, and movie and TV fans will be keeping an eye out for the results. 12/
Closer to home, Wrexham could be a club for North Wales. I don’t think this is likely. But, this the kind of novelty that could achieve that. But that is not the opportunity, it’s how the stadium is filled every week and social proof is built. 13/
Local kids wear Man United and Liverpool kits, but my nephew declared already that he wouldn’t mind a Wrexham kit this Christmas. Deadpool is a global brand even if the kids aren’t old enough to watch it. 14/
Commercial model
In 18/19 Wrexham were the only team to hammer Salford in their promotion season (not still bitter about that or owt, 5–1 in case you missed it). (Stay with me on this one...) 15/
In 18/19 Wrexham were the only team to hammer Salford in their promotion season (not still bitter about that or owt, 5–1 in case you missed it). (Stay with me on this one...) 15/
Beckham is a co-owner of Salford. There’s a skit on YouTube with over 34m views of him & Deadpool talking about David Beckham’s voice. That 5–1 result would have stuck in the mind. This is why I think Wrexham is on the radar of Reynolds and McElhenney. 16/
In 2020 Stevenage sold out of their kits for the first time ever, shipping their jerseys all over the world. They were the most popular team selected on FIFA 19s career mode. 17/ https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-how-league-two-club-stevenage-became-the-most-used-club-in-fifa-20-20200923
These are the opportunities that a global following can bring. And it just so happens that the former CEO of @LFC & COO at @EA (& former teacher at my school (true story)) grew up in Wxm. 18/
By the way, if @RMcElhenney & @VancityReynolds are not asking him to be chairman/CEO then they’re really missing a trick. 19/
Social media is a massive factor for modern football coverage and fan engagement. @hashtagutd, a club 150 years younger, have 4x higher Twitter and 30x higher Instagram audiences. They have global fan bases, built on endorsements and merchandise. 20/
Wrexham has almost always had local companies sponsoring. @Ifor_Williams trailers employ 750 people in Corwen – which everyone will know about now. 21/ https://twitter.com/wrexham_afc/status/1328339177746927624
The iconic shirts from the Wrexham Lager days, through to @GlyndwrUni have helped to retain the local community feel. How this will be balanced in the future is a curious question – which sparks another one. 22/
What is the long-term plan? How and when will the community take over once the new owners decide they’re done? Whether it is in five years or fifty years, there has to be a succession plan from day one which has a clear exit strategy that benefits the local community. 23/
The rumours are that the documentary deal is already done, and with a ticket higher than the committed investment into the club. 23/
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-16/-deadpool-star-wins-approval-to-buy-british-soccer-team-wrexham?__twitter_impression=true https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-16/-deadpool-star-wins-approval-to-buy-british-soccer-team-wrexham
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-16/-deadpool-star-wins-approval-to-buy-british-soccer-team-wrexham?__twitter_impression=true https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-16/-deadpool-star-wins-approval-to-buy-british-soccer-team-wrexham
There are plenty more reasons, created by all of the above, for why Wrexham AFC is a sound investment. There’s a very sound rationale for investment now – here’s hoping this is one of the more positive examples of international investment. 24/
