PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Wrexham is coming back to Philadelphia this summer. Subaru Park announced it will host the Welsh soccer club and Premier League club Sunderland.
It will be Wrexham versus Sunderland on Aug. 2, at Subaru Park in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union.
Wrexham is best known through “Welcome to Wrexham,” the FX documentary series featuring the travails of owners Ryan Reynolds, star of the “Deadpool” movies, and Philadelphia native Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney) of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fame.
“We were able to build a good relationship with Rob [Mac], “said Charlie Slonaker, the Philadelphia Union’s chief revenue officer.
“Rob was like our celebrity endorser for the 2022 MLS Cup in L.A. and just got to talking about the possibility of doing a game, and that's kind of how our first one came to light when they played our second division team, Union II, back in 2023.”
That match ended 1-1 and featured Union players who have since become first team regulars including Quinn Sullivan among others.
“What Wrexham has done with their documentary [has] brought a sort of a human interest story that people … just think it's a really neat story. They're fans of Rob or Ryan, and it's neat to bring those people out to Subaru Park.”
Sunderland was featured in its own three-season docuseries, “Sunderland ‘Til I Die,” which Slonaker said he also enjoyed.
“Given their story of … going down a couple divisions and then rising back up, and now playing very well in the Premier League,” he said, “no question about it, our fans will be excited to see them.”
Ryan LaBella, a member of Sunderland’s North American supporters group, said he’s psyched to see them play in person.
“I've been a Union season ticket holder and supporter for a number of years now,” he said. “[I’m] so excited to finally get to see Sunderland come and not only come to the United States, but come to our stadium — so excited that that is in motion, trying to get tickets any way I can.”