Wrexham’s Story: An Inspiration for Non-League Clubs to Expand Their Franchise Models

Wrexham’s rise from non-league football to the lower echelons of the Football League has been astounding. The impressive story was driven by the vision of its Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who acquired the club in 2021. The two boosted the club’s financial capabilities, but also brought in a clever strategy to increase its global profile.

Now, the big question is whether another non-league outfit could follow in Wrexham’s footsteps. The fairytale in Wales has certainly given other clubs hope.

Exploring Online Casino Games as a Means of Gaining Exposure

Wrexham’s marketing ventures haven’t expanded into online casino games yet, but this is a market that other clubs could seek to leverage. A club-themed slot wouldn’t look out of place in the iGaming sector, as highlighted by the online casino gambling at Paddy’s. On the site, there are countless football games to choose from, including Football Hero, Football Cash Collect, and Big Football Bonus. It’s clear that there’s a strong interest in the sport in the slots market, so a branded game using a specific non-league club could work well. 

A non-league club could seek to forge a partnership with a developer or an online casino to make a game. In exchange for the game getting exposure online, the club could promote the company on its shirts or around the stadium. Various football teams have partnered with online casinos or betting companies in recent times, so this is a marketing idea that could easily work.

Wrexham’s Diverse Revenue Streams: A Model for Success

Having Hollywood backing has doubtlessly helped Wrexham, but the new owners also brought some much-needed ambition to the club. They came to Wales with a concrete plan of action, with a clever franchise model high on the agenda. One of the most astute decisions that Reynolds and McElhenney made when they moved to the Racecourse Ground was to make a documentary for FX. Welcome to Wrexham was incredibly well received and helped attract Wrexham to an international audience.

Another non-league club could aim to do something similar. It wasn’t necessarily the star power of Wrexham’s new owners that made the series great. It was the fact that it was a true underdog story, and viewers could get behind the people and the players.

Is It Possible for Other Non-League Clubs to Follow Wrexham’s Path?

The model that Wrexham have brought to the English football pyramid could potentially work for another club. However, there’s no doubt that the financial clout and the public image of the two owners have helped massively. Non-league clubs could attempt to model the strategic investments of Wrexham, but there’s no guarantee of success. Now that Wrexham have been promoted to League One, a report from Football Fancast states that the club may be after some big name players in the summer transfer market. This is the stuff of dreams for non-league clubs, but the Welsh outfit has proven that it is a possibility.

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