EFL League One side Wrexham AFC have unveiled ambitious plans for a new Kop Stand at the STōK Cae Ras, promising a dynamic and atmospheric home for the Club’s passionate supporters.
Outside of the Premier League, there’s an argument to be had that Wrexham are one of the biggest globally known sides from the UK, thanks to their Hollywood owners and the Welcome to Wrexham documentary that really put the Welsh side on the map. So anytime there’s news surrounding the club, the world pays attention. This time, our attention has been peaked as there’s a nice creative element to the story, with the club revealing images of revised plans for a new Kop stand at their STōK Cae Ras home. And we here at the SoccerBible HQ love a good stadium, in case you didn’t already know.
So, what’s the story here? Well, the unique visual design is the work of world-renowned sports architects Populous, best known in the footballing world for their work on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The 5,500-capacity stand is set to be a striking focal point in the heart of Wrexham, blending heritage with a bold, modern identity.
With a seating bowl designed to amplify the matchday experience, the new Kop Stand will create an electric home-end atmosphere, optimised further by a roof engineered to channel crowd noise towards the pitch. The inclusion of safe standing, hospitality suites, and accessible seating ensures a future-proofed design that’s ready to evolve, with potential for increased capacity in the future.
Beyond just football, the stand will become an iconic hub for fans and the local community. A new player tunnel, integrated within the stand, allows fans to witness their heroes emerging onto the pitch, reinforcing the connection between players and supporters. Meanwhile, an external brick façade pays tribute to Wrexham’s historic “Terracottapolis” heritage, with Ruabon red brick and a contemporary Flemish bond pattern creating a striking visual identity. Two dragons from the club crest are embossed into the design, adding a fierce, unmistakable Wrexham touch.
Adding to the stand’s impact, a glass-backed structure provides a seamless blend of modernity and tradition, with a unique lattice brickwork allowing glimpses through the façade. The stand’s rear will open onto a public plaza—doubling as a fan zone on matchdays and a year-round community space—featuring the sister wheel of the Gresford Colliery wheel in a poignant tribute to Wrexham’s mining heritage.
Michael Williamson, Wrexham AFC Chief Executive Officer, said: “The new Kop Stand marks a special moment in the history of the STōK Cae Ras, allowing us to restore the traditional four-sided enclosure of the stadium, providing new and improved facilities and experiences for our fans and visitors to the stadium alike.
“The distinctive design of the new Kop Stand embodies the history and heritage of Wrexham - rooted in the local community creating a timeless, authentic piece of civic architecture that complements other landmarks. It will provide an iconic landmark standing at the gateway to the city giving it a true sense of place.
“The stand reflects the key role the football club can play in the rejuvenation and redevelopment of the city through its role in the Wrexham Gateway Project.
“The upgrading of facilities to meet UEFA Category 4 specifications are central to our wider vision of bringing international sport back to Wrexham and the benefit this will bring to the local community of hosting these events in North Wales.”
Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, added: “We have designed the new Kop Stand to be both authentic and unique in its approach to hosting Wrexham’s passionate fans. To do that we involved our team of audio consultants to maximise atmosphere, while the physical design of the façade at the back of the stand takes inspiration from the local brickwork and the city’s ‘Terracottapolis’ nickname, to link it to the generations of fans that have visited the ground in the past.
“The striking form and profile of the stand facade uses Ruabon-style red brick with dynamic textures and modern interpretation. The angled planes and carved form of the brick façade echo the strata of coal and slate seams that represent the industrial heritage of the local area, with the feeling that they have emerged organically from the ground they stand on. A contemporary approach to the brick detailing enables layers of transparency through the brickwork that dissolve the boundary between the stand and the public plaza outside. This allows visibility into and out of the stand, responding to the club’s role as an open and integral part of its local community.”
The new stand, along with other works planned at the stadium, will make Wrexham's ground fully compliant with Uefa category 4 stadium standards, allowing it to host the Uefa European Under-19 Championship finals tournament in 2026 and other international events.