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Why Aren’t Wrexham’s Matches Broadcast In the U.S.?

Why Aren't Wrexham's Matches Broadcast In the U.S.?

If you’ve been paying attention to pop culture over the last year, you’re aware that Welcome to Wrexham has become a breakout hit for FX. The docuseries follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s purchase of fifth-tier Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC and their attempts to rebuild the club and return it to prominence. The show has gained the club a large following in the U.S., but there’s one problem: it’s incredibly difficult to watch Wrexham’s matches in America. That seems like a huge missed opportunity.

On Tuesday, Wrexham faced Newcastle’s U21 team in the group stage of the EFL Trophy tournament. Unfortunately, there was no way to watch the match in America. Wrexham won 1-0 but it was difficult to find any highlights or updates as the match was being played.

At the end of the 2022-23 season, Wrexham won the National League and earned promotion to League Two, returning to English Football League play for the first time in 15 years. While in the National League, Wrexham’s matches streamed on a National League platform. Now that they’re in League Two, the only way for Americans to watch matches is to sign up for iFollow, a streaming service. A subscription for a whole season costs $225, or you can pay $33 monthly.

I realize broadcast and streaming rights are a thing, so working out a deal for one season of League Two football was probably impossible for the team. That said, the fact that legions of new fans can’t find the matches anywhere on American TV or on a service like ESPN+ is pretty crazy. And it’s a missed opportunity for League Two to help grow the game in America.

As of now, ESPN owns the rights to the English Championship’s regular season matches and League Cup matches, but will only show 20 League One and League Two matches.

The EFL reached a massive deal with Sky Sports to broadcast the Championship, League One and League Two matches, plus all of those league’s playoff matches, 93 Carabao Cup matches and all 127 EFL Trophy matches. The problem is, Sky Sports is only available in the UK and Ireland. Selling the U.S. rights to Wrexham matches to an American network would make a ton of sense for all involved.

While I’m sure iFollow is hoping tons of people sign up, it’s a lot of money to watch one team, where adding Wrexham to existing cable and streaming packages would be far more logical. And would likely wind up bringing in far more revenue in the long run.

Thus far during Wrexham’s League Two campaign, the Red Dragons are 2-3-1 and sitting in 13th place. They’ve been missing a number of key players due to injury, including star striker Paul Mullin. They’re expected to compete for the League Two title once their team is intact again. Unfortunately, there will be no easy way for those in the U.S. to watch them chase another promotion.

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Wrexham’s $600K Vegas Celebration with Reynolds & McElhenney

rob mcelhenney ryan reynolds

When Hollywood big shots Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take on ownership roles, it’s bound to be a spectacle. That’s what Wrexham Football Club found out when the two actors, who are part owners of the club, lavished the players with an extravagant Vegas party. This celebration, marking the team’s promotion, reportedly set the duo back a staggering, over half a million pounds, which is approximately $622,000.

Foster Says Wrexham Owners Spent At Least Half A Million Dollars on Promotion Celebration

At the heart of the festivities was Ben Foster, Wrexham’s star goalkeeper. His crucial last-minute save against Notts County sealed the team’s promotion. Following the match, the players, along with Foster, boarded a flight. The destination? Las Vegas, of course.

Sharing his experience on The Fellas Podcast, Foster painted a vibrant picture of the celebratory bash. Upon arrival, the team went straight from the plane to the Hakkasan nightclub. What awaited them there was something out of a Hollywood movie.

Inside Hakkasan, Wrexham songs filled the air, Wrexham drapes fell from the ceiling, and a large screen displayed the team’s best moments. Foster was astounded, claiming that the extravagant night had to have cost the owners at least half a million pounds ($622,000).

But the party didn’t stop there. They also visited a plethora of luxury hotspots, including the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Spago, and Omnia. Each location was decked out in Wrexham paraphernalia. There was even an ice sculpture of the club’s badge at the Bellagio.

When not dining in Las Vegas’ finest eateries, the team indulged in pool parties, a Chainsmokers concert, and even joined renowned DJ Steve Aoki on stage. As Foster said, “they just looked after everything.”

“Best Owners in the World”

Midfielder Ben Tozer, in an interview with talkSPORT, couldn’t help but express his gratitude. Praising Reynolds and McElhenney as the “best owners in the world.”

Despite the lavish spending, one thing is clear – Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney know how to celebrate success. They are not just owners but fans, investing in their team and building a connection that transcends the boundaries of a football field.

This glamorous adventure in Vegas symbolizes their commitment to the club, their players, and the beautiful game itself. The Wrexham players, who were treated like A-listers, got a taste of Hollywood, thanks to their star owners.

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Wrexham’s Promotion Chances Took a Huge Hit

Wrexham's Promotion Chances Took a Huge Hit

Wrexham AFC has become a worldwide darling thanks to new owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. FX’s Welcome to Wrexham introduced the Welsh club, and its hometown, to the world and even non-soccer loving fans are cheering on its quest for promotion out of the fifth-tier of English soccer. Well, the squad’s chances at moving out of the National League have taken a massive hit.

Wrexham suffered a shocking 3-1 loss to FC Halifax Town on Friday. The defeat dropped the Red Dragons to second place in the standings behind Notts County. Both clubs have 100 points on the season, but Notts leads on goal differential. The two top squads will face each other on Monday in a match that could very well determine who tops the table. Wrexham has played one fewer game than Notts County, but a loss on Monday would all but end the club’s hopes for automatic promotion.

Wrexham held a 1-0 lead over Halifax Town at the half on Friday, but three second-half goals against did the Red Dragons in. It ended Wrexham’s 28-match unbeaten streak in National League play. The team hadn’t lost in league play since October 4, a 1-0 defeat that came against … Notts County.

A win on Monday wouldn’t clinch promotion for either side, but would make it highly likely. Only the top team in the National League earns automatic promotion. The next six teams battle for the league’s other promotion spot through playoffs. Notts and Wrexham are far and away the top teams in the National League, so earning promotion through the playoffs is a distinct possibility. But leaving it up to chance is risky. Wrexham finished second in the table last season then lost to Grimsby Town in the semifinals.

Wrexham has been stuck in the National League since being relegated from League Two in 2008. Earning promotion has been a cornerstone of McElhenney and Reynolds’ strategy since buying the club and is a huge part of Welcome to Wrexham‘s storyline.

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