Massive new Kop banner installed to back City of Culture bid

Wrexham AFC have said they are pleased to unveil a new Kop banner, promoting Wrexham’s UK City of Culture bid and its partners.

Earlier this season a huge red banner had been placed over the Kop however Storm Arwen damaged the banner late last year, and it was removed.

A new replacement banner will now be in place for the remainder of the season, promoting the town’s 2025 UK City of Culture bid – #Wrecsam2025 – and partners.

Wrexham AFC CEO, Fleur Robinson, said: “Wrexham AFC is a big part of Wrexham’s community and culture. We were keen to help to support the bid, and on this basis are delighted to provide the opportunity to display the banner as a mark of our support as ambassadors.

“It’s great to see the colourful Wrecsam 2025 bid logo brightening up the Kop end while plans are ongoing for its development.”

Wrexham.com understands the hefty banner weighs nearly half a ton and is 66 metres long and cost in the region of £20k, a sum split between the council and partners, and required a team of abseilers to install.

Chair of Wrexham City of Culture bid’s steering group and Moneypenny CEO, Joanna Swash, said: “Wrexham’s City of Culture bid is really building momentum as we head towards the shortlist.

“We’ve seen great community and business engagement and I am very pleased to see the City of Culture logo surrounded by some of our bid supporters and sponsors. Having our bid logo on display at iconic, historic and loved venues in Wrexham gives us a fantastic platform for promoting the benefits of what Wrexham City of Culture can bring to Wrexham in 2025.”

The City of Culture bid is entering a key period with Wrexham currently on the eight strong longlist. A shortlist of three places is set to be announced likely in the next two weeks, with visits then to take place to the chosen three areas by the judging panel. The final winner is set to be announced in May.

Details of ‘many benefits’ of a successful bid was also published:

Regeneration: Current UK City of Culture hosts Coventry have reported £500 million city regeneration activity completed or underway linked to the investment generated by the City of Culture title.

Investment: Current UK City of Culture hosts Coventry have reported £172.6 million investment has been secured into the city as a result of Coventry being awarded UK City of Culture.

Footfall: Hull hosted in 2017 with over 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions, attracting a total audience of 5.3 million.

Loving where we live: becoming hosts will allow us all to tell the world what Wrexham is made of, and why we love living and working here. This will be the biggest opportunity to date for Wrexham to tell our story-where we’ve come from, who we are, and what we want our future to be.

A “huge thank you” has been made to those also sponsoring the banner: Wrexham AFC, Wrexham Council,  Moneypenny , Development Bank of Wales , Belvoir,  Glyndwr University,  Coleg Cambria and Transport for Wales”.

Chairman with the old Kop banner in the background