Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney talks Wrexham, future plans and the documentary, Wrexham's preseason and being a Phillies fan before throwing a double ceremonious pitch
London Stadium, London, UK
London Stadium, London, UK
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00:00 It's a free agent now, is there a chance for him to come back to Rexxon?
00:05 There's a very good chance. We're talking to Arthur right now.
00:10 We know he wants to come back to Rexxon, but he's definitely not looking out for the idea that I just started.
00:18 I know you've signed some former Premier League players before to really give your team some big game experience.
00:27 Is there any players in the same profile that you're on your way to right now?
00:31 We're about to find that out this week. I go to Rexxon very soon and we're going to sit down and talk about that with you.
00:38 There was talk about Jamie Vardy. He's recently signed a new one-year deal with Leicester.
00:43 It's not possible now, but in a year's time, if it's on a free agency, is that something that you'd be interested in?
00:51 Gareth Bale is still technically available. I made the play last year and I'm just going to tell Gareth that the offer is still on the table.
00:59 He loves golf a little bit too much.
01:01 We'll let you off with golf. As long as you come to training once or twice a week, I think we can figure out how to get you 10 minutes.
01:12 Are there good golf courses in Rexxon that might be attractive?
01:15 Amongst the most beautiful countries in the world.
01:19 Do you find yourself very open about getting rep and bagging to the National League?
01:25 You guys might have to keep setting higher ambitions now with how well things have gone.
01:29 We just look at it season to season. Our goal is to build the best club we can on the pitch in the next year
01:38 and continue to work with the community to give them what they need in one big task.
01:44 You seem to really enjoy representing Wales as a country. Is that a big part of it for you?
01:49 It has been. The way we've been embraced by the country and by the members of the community,
01:54 and the country of Wales, has been one of the most heartwarming parts of the entire experience.
02:01 To turn the direction a little bit here, what are your emotions like right now as you're about to go out in front of a thousand plus people?
02:09 What is it like to be here?
02:15 Well, having been the last few years at Citizens Bank and you have such an electric atmosphere.
02:25 I wasn't at the game here last night, but I did watch it on TV and it felt like it was at Citizens Bank.
02:32 I'm just honored to be here to bring America's pastime across the pond and just to be a very small part of it.
02:41 Knowing this rivalry, do you take any pride in the sheer amount of red hats in proportion to blue that have been around London these past few days?
02:49 I can tell you honestly, I know I'm talking to Philadelphia outlets, although I feel like I'm talking to lots of different outlets.
02:56 I can tell you objectively, there are a lot of Phillies fans here. When you look around, when we were driving in and walking in, it seems like it's 75% Phillies fans.
03:06 So I don't know, at some point the Mets fans will show up, but it might just be a little bit later.
03:10 They might not also. Do you get nervous at all still in these situations? You've obviously been on big stages and everything,
03:17 but to actually go out and execute in front of everybody, I know people get nervous at first pitches all the time.
03:24 Where are you at mentally with that?
03:26 Oh yeah, I pick it up and perform or give a speech or talk to large amounts of people, but anything athletic, I'm always terrified.
03:38 I'm not the most athletic person. So I just go out there, do my best and hope I don't embarrass myself.
03:45 Whether it's athletes or celebrities, we've seen quite a bit more American investment in English football in the last couple of years, Welsh football I suppose as well.
03:51 Do you have other folks, whether it's Hollywood or in elite sport in America, talking to you, planting that seed, asking you what it's like if you have an interest?
04:00 Oh yes, yes. There's just so much more interest in football in the United States.
04:06 I have to call it football because I'm here in Europe. When I'm in the US, I call it soccer, just for clarity's sake.
04:13 There's so much interest in football and it's continuing to grow with the success of MLS, with the success of the MX and the success of the EPL.
04:22 I noticed the jacket you chose today is actually the West Ham colours. Is that by design or by accident?
04:29 I'll let you read into that. I just noticed that it was before I left Los Angeles that I looked at the West Ham colours and I looked at this jacket and realised, oh wow, that lines up pretty well.
04:41 You've done a lot to grow soccer in the US. What do you think about MLB's efforts here today?
04:48 It was always our goal to bring the town and team of Wrexham to the United States audience.
04:56 We hoped that we could be a part of continuing to grow the sport of football across the States.
05:02 So to get a call from one of my best friends, Chase, and MLB to be a part of growing the sport of baseball in the UK was just such a great honour and a great opportunity.
05:13 Are you interested in maybe having a, because they haven't got a London series next year, are you interested in maybe turning a racecourse into a park and maybe having a baseball event there?
05:23 Wow, I hadn't even thought about that. That would be incredible. I don't know that we have the capacity yet, but maybe one day.
05:31 You've got your summer tour with both the women's and the men's teams for Wrexham. What's going to make that a success when that ends?
05:40 Again, most of the games are already sold out, which tells you how much interest there is in the clubs over there.
05:49 So for us, it's just about making sure that we're giving the supporters, the new supporters, the experience that they're hoping for.
05:58 And then also, as far as the club goes, that we're giving Phil an opportunity to get the players ready for next season.
06:03 Obviously you're doing your pre-season tour out in the States, and you're playing for Chelsea and a lot of other different teams.
06:12 What are you looking forward to within that aspect, obviously taking Wrexham out to the States?
06:18 It's such a great experience to bring. I spend so much time in Wrexham, and so many people in the U.S. have welcomed Wrexham into their living rooms when they watch the documentary or the games.
06:33 So the opportunity to bring the club to the United States and to my home state last year when I brought them to Philly, and this year the state I live in, California, is just a dream come true.
06:44 And then obviously as well to add to that, you're going to have a lot of different events. TimeZone, when the football's on here, is really early in America, I'm guessing?
06:54 Yes.
06:55 Actually to be in the American TimeZone, have the American fans be able to watch it, how do you think that all builds Wrexham out in the States as well?
07:04 Well the West Coast is the biggest challenge because the games are typically on at 7am, that's tricky. I find that anybody that has children are up at 7am anyway.
07:13 The East Coast, a 10 o'clock game is not a difficult thing to get people to get up to. I find that if people are interested in something, they'll get up to watch it.
07:24 You see the pubs all packed at all hours of the day when some of the international games are on. When there's interest, people will find a way.
07:38 Congrats on the documentary, Rob. Any teasers or spoilers you can give us?
07:43 Well the final episode is not aired yet, but I can give away that it's a happy ending.
07:48 Thanks to you for everything.