Michael Williamson shares major update on Wrexham's £69.1m Kop. Credit: Roberts & Daughter / @tenspromike Instagram
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has confirmed that the club’s £69.1 million Kop development remains “on time” and “on budget”, with work already underway to prepare for the operational changes the new stand will bring.
The redevelopment is transforming the Kop end of the Racecourse Ground, where the new structure is now clearly taking shape after major construction milestones were reached during the summer.
The new stand is expected to be ready for the start of the 2027/28 season. Wrexham’s goal is a 7,750-capacity Kop, although planning approval is still pending for the additional 2,250 seats above the already approved 5,500-seat design.
Michael Williamson says Wrexham Kop is on time and on budget
Speaking to The Athletic, Williamson offered a positive update on a project that marks one of the most significant changes to the Racecourse in decades.
“The Kop is on time, it’s on budget. Now, we have to transition to the next stage.”
Wrexham’s latest accounts revealed a £69.1 million construction commitment tied to the redevelopment, which is also receiving Welsh Government support as part of the wider Gateway scheme.
The initial 5,500-seat Kop plan has full approval, with a further application submitted to add a second tier of 2,250 seats. If granted, the total capacity would rise to 7,750, taking the Racecourse towards an overall capacity of around 18,000.
Wrexham already preparing for new Kop opening
Building the stand is only one part of the challenge. Williamson explained that Wrexham must prepare the entire operation for a stadium that will be significantly larger than the one the club currently runs.
That includes increasing matchday staffing and preparing the bars, restaurants, hospitality areas and general admission sections that will serve thousands of additional supporters.
Test runs will also be required before the Kop becomes fully operational, allowing Wrexham to assess how the new areas function with supporters inside the stand.
There are supporter-related decisions still to be made. Existing season-ticket holders are expected to have the opportunity to move into the Kop, but Williamson admitted the club does not yet know how many will choose to do so.
The away allocation could also change. The interview reports that visiting clubs could receive around 1,800 tickets rather than the current 1,293 if Wrexham are still operating under EFL requirements when the stand opens.
New Kop will change more than Wrexham’s capacity
Work on the Kop will also reshape other parts of the stadium. The project includes new dressing rooms and player facilities, while changes to medical areas and the club shop are also under discussion.
Williamson also highlighted the need to avoid decisions now that could limit future redevelopment options.
“Whatever we do, there cannot be something so permanent that it becomes prohibitive to do a next stage. You have to future-proof a little bit of everything.”
Once the Racecourse reaches roughly 18,000 capacity, Williamson says the club intends to assess the other three stands and consider short-term improvements while developing longer-term plans with Populous.
For now, the immediate focus remains getting the Kop finished and ready for supporters. Williamson’s confirmation that the £69.1 million project remains on schedule and within budget is an encouraging update as one of Wrexham’s biggest infrastructure projects moves closer to completion.
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