Wrexham earn huge six-figure sum in less than two months – all thanks to Ryan Reynolds
Wrexham have announced six-figure online streaming earnings in just two months.
The Welsh side, who happen to be the third oldest football club in the world, were thrusted into the limelight after Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over in early 2021. Since their takeover, the duo have re-energised the previously ailing non-league club and vowed to take it all the way to the Premier League.
They have notably splashed out on recruitment in the hope of gaining promotion to League Two. But the shrewd owners have now also been able to generate an extra £225,000 worth of revenue from 13,170 subscriptions through the club’s new streaming platform.
READ MORE: Why did Ryan Reynolds buy Wrexham FC? All you need to know
The stunning figures, achieved between December 10 and February 7, came as a result of Reynolds’ role in kick-starting the streaming service – National League TV.
Deadpool actor Reynolds last year called out the League for its “truly baffling” failure to consider allowing clubs to stream live matches both domestically and internationally.
He went on to say how officials had refused a plan to open talks with BT, who own the rights to the competition in the UK, about streaming.
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“Depriving every team in our league the chance to expand the fanbase while adding to league revenue benefits everyone,” Reynolds tweeted out to his 20million social media followers.
His comments, backed by league sponsors Vanarama, saw the League make a stunning U-turn to announce a “centralised, fully tested streaming platform” in September.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The League wrote in a statement at the time: “BT are keen to work with the National League to support opportunities for our clubs to generate extra income, as they did during the Covid pandemic, in the form of streaming.
“We have been working intensely for some months to finalise a proposal to launch a centralised, fully tested Vanarama National League streaming platform. This proposal goes to the board for consideration at their meeting on 15th September.”
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And the benefits have now been reaped, with fans both domestic and international tuning into games. The club estimates 2460 devices are being used to watch each Wrexham game by fans outside the UK and another 1950 by fans in the UK.
The figures are expected to carry on rising throughout the season, with the side two points off the top of the National League with two games in hand.
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