Wrexham AFC’s raising the stakes in its promotion to the English Football League superpower. They recently revealed a $2.5 million investment from Apollo Sports Capital, an investor based in New York that is on our List of Investors. On top of the footballing achievements, this deal leaves the club in a much stronger financial position. It further marks a major milestone in the ever-evolving transformation of this storied football institution.
The investment will enable Wrexham AFC to finance the development of its iconic Racecourse Ground, known as Y Cae Ras in Welsh. The fast expanding club has just achieved the repayment of £15 million worth of loans. This money was sent to a company jointly owned by its cinematic founders, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Remarkably, this repayment took place in little over a year, a testament to the club’s quick expansion and financial strength.
Despite receiving no more than £2 million in grants, according to official databases, Wrexham AFC has managed to attract tens of millions of pounds in investments from various sources, including the Allyn family. This wave of investment is a huge endorsement of the commercial attractiveness of the club, particularly with the stewardship of McElhenney and Reynolds.
Both McElhenney, known for creating the popular comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and Reynolds, recognized for his role as producer and star of the “Deadpool” film franchise, remain majority owners of Wrexham AFC. That’s not just turned the grassroots organization’s fortunes around — it has investors around the world paying attention.
Stefan Borson, an expert on the infrastructure industry, explained why Apollo’s investment matters. He added, “The investment from Apollo is a game-changing milestone. It most probably establishes a record pre-money valuation for any Championship club. He really showcased Wrexham’s commercial attractiveness. This really underlines Wrexham’s appeal, now including one of the largest investors in the world.”
Borson shared additional context on what this investment will mean. Yet he argued it could push the agency towards his club Premier League ambitions. The current owners are rallying together to increase the club’s investment. That will underwrite the construction of the new stadium and push them further along the path to the Premier League. He continued that the Apollo investment is putting those questions back on the table. So why did the Welsh government have to step in with £18 million of non-repayable grants?
McElhenney and Reynolds have Wrexham AFC’s long-term cultural goals in mind. Remain grounded in the community. They’re committed to creating a green future for the club. “Since day one, our goal was to create a long-term sustainable future for Wrexham AFC. And to make the process fun and entertaining without losing its message. They declared that their ambition is to promote this club back to the Premier League. They want to reach that goal while staying authentic to the town.
Apollo Sports Capital’s investment will be crucial to Wrexham AFC. It’ll help them do a better job of ensuring that every tax dollar spent on new and upgraded facilities will go toward creating jobs and revitalizing the local economy and community. NYSE’s Lee Solomon of Apollo Sports Capital shared his excitement about the new partnership. We’re excited to be part of the club’s, the Wrexham community’s, and Rob and Ryan’s incredible journey. Apollo Sports Capital provides a multifaceted investment that includes long-term, patient capital. It is our hope that this investment will allow Wrexham to realize all of its lofty ambitions, in addition to restoring flagging local amenities and jumpstarting the economy.
As Wrexham AFC continues its ascent through the English Football League towards the Championship, this investment represents both an opportunity for growth and a test of its leadership’s vision. The club’s future now hinges on balancing ambition with fiscal responsibility while maintaining its deep-rooted connection to the local community.