Wrexham AFC gets temporary stand at 80% capacity

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Image credit: Wrexham AFC

Wrexham AFC has got the green light for its new temporary stand, which will open at 80% capacity.

The League Two football club erected the temporary structure, which has a capacity of 2,289 and can accommodate an additional 20 wheelchairs, after it was revealed in September that the new permanent Kop stand would not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season as anticipated.

The club indicated that “good progress” was being made on the temporary stand’s licence application, and it has been revealed that it will open at 80% capacity.

Wrexham stated in September that the new Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground will not be completed for the start of the 2024-25 season, citing a lack of a start date on site. The build duration has been scheduled at 12 months, and it is unclear how long the temporary stand will be in place.

Wrexham maintained in January that it was moving on with plans to refurbish the Kop end despite losing Levelling Up funds, with Morgan Sindall named the preferred contractor for the project. 

However, the Kop stand, will be a significant shift for the club once again being able to take its place on the roster of venues capable of hosting international football.

The Wrexham Gateway project, which involves the reconstruction of the Racecourse Ground, was not one of the 11 Welsh projects that received government financing. The new stand, which will seat 5,500 people, has been a top objective for co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds since they took over the club in February 2021.

The Racecourse Ground is currently named as STōK Cae Ras | STōK Racecourse Stadium due to a sponsorship agreement with US-based STōK Cold Brew Coffee.

Reynolds and McElhenney are committed to their ultimate goal, to push the club all the way to the Premier League, and are determined to have a stadium fit for the occasion.

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GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

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Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

Melbourne Victory partners with The Pass to expand fan experience

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Image Credit: Australian Professional Leagues

Melbourne Victory has added The Pass to its commercial portfolio, with the partnership designed to give supporters more ways to follow the club away from matchday.

The Pass becomes an ‘Associate Partner’ of Victory, while Hickens Hotel has been named the club’s ‘Official Away Game Venue Partner’. The arrangement will see the Russell Street venue host Victory watch parties and provide a dedicated gathering point for supporters during away fixtures.

The partnership also gives Victory supporters access to The Pass’ broader network of more than 200 venues around Australia, extending the relationship beyond a single location.

For Melbourne Victory, the deal forms part of a wider approach to creating commercial partnerships around the supporter experience rather than limiting sponsorship to traditional branding opportunities.

Hickens Hotel will host Victory fans for selected away matches, while The Pass will provide members with access to offers and experiences through its venue network.

The agreement also connects with Victory’s broader business community, with The Pass joining the club’s commercial network and creating potential opportunities for corporate engagement alongside its consumer-facing activity.

The partnership comes ahead of the 2026/27 A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women seasons, with Victory continuing to develop its commercial offering around both its membership base and matchday audience.

For The Pass, football provides a way to bring its network of hospitality venues into the supporter experience, giving fans a physical destination to watch matches when Victory is playing on the road.

The agreement reflects a broader trend across professional football, with clubs increasingly looking to partnerships that can provide tangible benefits to supporters while creating additional opportunities for commercial partners.

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