Wagner relishes Wrexham rivalry as Blues dream big with 60,000 stadium plan | OneFootball

Birmingham City’s American owner Tom Wagner is embracing the club’s growing rivalry with fellow US-backed Wrexham ahead of Friday night’s clash and says he will be in the thick of the action with the travelling Blues support rather than in the directors’ box.

Wagner, who took control at St Andrew’s last year, will swap boardroom luxury for jeans, trainers and a hoodie as he joins the away end at the Racecourse Ground. It is, he insists, his favourite way to experience football.

“Friday night, I’ll be in trainers and jeans and a hoodie sitting in the away end, probably a few pounds lighter for the pints that I’ll buy,” Wagner said. “That’s the way we approach ownership; to sit with our fans, scream, yell and act like kids again. At the end of the day, isn’t that what this is all about?”

Birmingham’s trip to Wrexham pits two of the most high-profile American ownership groups in the EFL against each other. Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have transformed the fortunes of the Welsh club, while Wagner is spearheading a bold project to restore City to former glories.

Far from hostility, Wagner, who has NFL superstar Tom Brady in his celebrity ownership armoury at Birmingham, insists the rivalry is a healthy one. “I have enormous respect for Ryan and Rob. What they’ve done in Wrexham is amazing. The people there are incredible, it’s a wonderful place to go and visit and enjoy a football match. We have our own tradition when we play each other and hopefully that will continue this time.”

Wagner’s long-term ambition is clear: to re-establish Birmingham as a football powerhouse and fill a planned new 62,000-seat stadium. He is confident the demand exists.

“We sold 50,000 tickets at Wembley for our cup final last year and still had 22,000 people waiting on the phones. The demand is there,” he explained. “Of course, Tuesday nights in the rain are tougher, but we don’t need to sell out in year one. I’m highly confident we’ll do it. Every day we work on new ways to grow the club and revenue streams so we can put a better and better product on the pitch.”

For Wagner, Birmingham City is a “sleeping giant” ready to be awakened. Friday’s clash with Wrexham may just be another step on that journey, but one the unassuming billionaire he intends to enjoy shoulder to shoulder with the fans.