Wrexham’s £1 million investment in a new hybrid pitch at the Racecourse Ground has delayed their ability to host home friendlies during pre-season. The team is currently on a historic tour of Australia and New Zealand, with their home opener scheduled for August 12 in the Carabao Cup.
Despite a busy pre-season schedule, Wrexham won’t be gracing their iconic Racecourse Ground for a friendly ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Red Dragons are making history with their 2025 tour of Australia and New Zealand, but a £1 million investment in their home pitch has led to a delay in hosting games on their home turf.
After two successful summers in the United States, Wrexham have opted for a change of scenery in 2025, embarking on a historic tour of Australia and New Zealand. They’ve already faced Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, with a clash against Wellington Phoenix scheduled next. However, upon returning to North Wales, the team won’t be playing a home friendly, despite having two more pre-season games lined up.
The Red Dragons have invested £1 million in upgrading the Racecourse Ground’s playing surface, with a state-of-the-art hybrid pitch, new drainage system, and underground heating. While this upgrade promises long-term benefits, it has meant that the pitch needs time to bed in, preventing any pre-season friendlies from taking place at home.
Manager Phil Parkinson has confirmed that once the team returns from their tour, they will focus on rest and recovery before kicking off preparations for the season ahead. “After a couple of days off, we’ll start building up. We’ll have an in-house game to start, and then we’re looking to announce a friendly game the following weekend,” Parkinson explained.
Wrexham’s £1 million pitch investment underscores the club’s commitment to providing top-tier facilities as they prepare for their first season in the Championship since 1981-82. With Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at the helm, the upgrades are a clear sign of the club’s ambition. However, the delay in using the new surface for home friendlies is an unavoidable setback.
Wrexham’s long-awaited return to the Championship will kick off on August 9 with an away match against Southampton. They will play their first home game of the season at the Racecourse Ground on August 12 against Hull City in the Carabao Cup first round, followed by a league clash with West Brom on August 16.
