Ryan Reynolds and 'Welcome to Wrexham' are rivalling Messi popularity in US
The mania surrounding Lionel Messi in the US refuses to die down as the he embarks on a second MLS season but it appears that Wrexham's fairytale Hollywood transformation is inspiring a similar level of intrigue for Americans.
The arrival of world-famous actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as co-chairmen at the Racecourse Ground back in 2021 heralded a move into unchartered territory for all parties. The big screen favourites seemed an unlikely match for an unfashionable - if historic - club languishing outside of the EFL.
However, fast forward just three years and the pair's union with the Red Dragons has flourished into one of the most compelling tales in the British football landscape of recent times. In the interim period, the duo have proved themselves to be hands-on custodians of the world's third oldest club.
Masterminding a memorable automatic promotion back to the fourth tier last year, the ownership have invested heavily in revitalising the playing staff with big name additions. However, their greatest legacy so far is arguably their success in bringing the Reds to has been exposing the club to fresh audiences stateside and beyond.
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The Welsh outfit's trials, tribulations and successes have been chronicled on film as part of hit docuseries during their chairmanship via the award-winning ' Welcome to Wrexham '. About to enter its third instalment, the FX programme has helped put the town and club on the map among the American public at at large.
Having cultivated a cult following due to the club's newfound fame across the pond, this popularity was reflected as the team travelled to the US for a pre-season tour last summer. A novelty for a club that was playing non-league football just last term, fans flocked to see them face Premier League giants such as Manchester United and Chelsea during the trip.
Now, Wrexham's director Shaun Harvey has explained how the 'Welcome to Wrexham' series has proved a hit in the US on par with other contemporary major documentaries involving more established names. In terms of reaction, the series has punched above its weight, rivalling Amazon's 'All or Nothing' and Apple TV's 'Messi Meets America' - chronicling the World Cup winner's move to Inter Miami.
"The town is the underdog in this story, more so than the football club," Harvey told the Guardian, as he attempted to explain why the American public has taken the north Wales outfit to their hearts. "Our documentary isn’t one that’s built around telling the story of elite athletes in a pressure scenario, it’s about a football club that’s on a journey towards the top.
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's transformation of Wrexham has been chronicled as part of a docuseries (Getty)Harvey added: "It’s a story that resonates with many, many people who can relate to what Wrexham and its supporters are going through in some part of their own life."
As for watching Wrexham live in a playing capacity, it appears that the Dragons are outstriping their rivals considerably in this regard too. The club director continued: "There’s probably 5,000 US households that have an annual subscription to watch Wrexham games live. In isolation that might not sound like a lot, but it’s a massive amount in comparison to the majority of other clubs in the EFL."
Harvey, who is a direct advisor to Reynolds and McElhenney, has also explained how the US is an important market the football pyramid beyond the Premier League. Previously serving as the a chief executive of the EFL, he called on clubs in the lower tiers to use the popularity of the top flight to their advantage.
He detailed: "The US is always going to be massively important to the EFL, because there’s such a strong market and fanbase for football and the work has already been done by the Premier League to get a foothold there. The challenge now is for clubs in the EFL to leverage that relationship and use it to build their own followings in the US."
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