I visited a Wrexham supporters’ bar in New York City to witness the team’s growth and observe how supporters around the world support the Welsh Club as if it were their own.
Three years ago, it’s doubtful that nobody would have known about Wrexham, much less seen their games live, if you had gone to a sports bar while on vacation and asked whether they were showing the match.
However, Wrexham’s past 36 months have been unparalleled, and the North Wales team now boasts millions of global supporters. The club has been well-known after Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney arrived, and their critically acclaimed documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham” has elevated them to the same level of popularity as some of the top Premier League teams.
Their global relevance has increased, and fans from other countries are now really interested in the team, treating it like their own. Less than three years after Reynolds and McElhenney bought the team, the Wrexham Supporters Bar is located close to Times Square in New York.
Now, Printers Alley is the place to be on matchdays in New York to watch all Wrexham games, with the bar opening early to catch the action. Normally open from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m., they open early on Saturdays to accommodate Wrexham supporters with food, drink, and football.
I gathered a group of British expatriates, one of them a Wrexham supporter, to witness the team play at 10 a.m. local time and immerse ourselves in the new culture after receiving an invitation to check it out for myself. Wrexham-specific flags were flown at Printers Alley, along with a massive screen that broadcast the match live on iFollow.
Regretfully, I didn’t witness a Wrexham victory; rather, I witnessed their worst loss of the year, a 5-0 loss to Stockport County. Wrexham’s season may have taken a slight hit, but they haven’t lost since. That may have temporarily soured the mood.
Now that I live in New York, I can attest that football, or soccer as it is called here, is played on a completely different schedule. ‘Lunchtime’ kickoffs begin at 7:30am. Owing to the time difference (five hours behind), the customary 3pm games are also enjoyed over breakfast. As far as I can tell, drinking in a pub while watching football has become quite rare, unless it’s a Champions League game.
After I overcame my initial guilt about drinking beer at 10am—or, in this case, an espresso martini—I had the distinct impression that I was back in an English pub, cheering on the team. The only distinction is that after the game, it’s lunchtime, and the location is transformed into a college football pub.
The Printers Alley currently enthusiastically support Wrexham, the collegiate team Tennessee, and the NFL team Pittsburgh Steelers, all of which have sizable fan groups. They offer a special menu for game day and a risky happy hour from 11 to 7, so you can enjoy the experience for a very reasonable price.
Naturally, that experience has been “Americanized,” with guests now able to have chicken and waffles, an omelette and home fries, or even a brunch burger in place of the customary pie and pint before the game. “Wrexham fever” has undoubtedly taken over the world, and Printers is the spot to be if you’re a fan visiting New York and still want to show your support for the squad.
Even after the publication of the successful series and numerous promotional campaigns by Reynolds and McElhenney, I was still taken aback by Wrexham’s initial level of popularity in New York. Still, given their popularity, it makes perfect sense, and printers have taken steps to make accommodations for people who are searching for a place to congregate.
Wrexham has grown by 921.23 percent on all social media platforms after Reynolds and McElhenney acquired the company in 2020. Prior to the takeover, their Twitter /X page had 10 percent of 550,000 followers. Welcome to Wrexham has been viewed by millions of people worldwide, but this is only the start as more supporters decide to follow the team and its progress.
