The lights of the Las Vegas Strip shone even brighter when Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds hosted a glitzy celebration at Caesars Palace to mark Wrexham’s latest promotion. More than 500 guests attended, including cast members from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Deadpool,” plus club legends Mickey Thomas and Joey Jones. A Welsh male‑voice choir opened the evening with “Bread of Heaven,” then DJ Diplo took control of the decks. Inside the ballroom a replica of the Racecourse Ground tunnel guided revellers onto a red carpet lined with memorabilia: Paul Mullin’s hat‑trick boots from the Derby demolition sat beside a display showing the club’s six‑million‑follower surge on social media since 2022.
Centre stage stood the Championship trophy, loaned by the EFL for 24 hours, perched on a plinth of Welsh slate. Reynolds joked that promotion stress outstripped Marvel deadlines before pledging a $1 million donation to Wrexham’s community trust for new pitches across north Wales. McElhenney announced the Dragon Cup, an annual pre‑season friendly in Vegas starting 2026. A surprise video from Michael Sheen triggered a rousing “Yma o Hyd” from the mainly American crowd.
Players unable to attend linked live from the Turf Hotel where fans erupted each time Vegas cameras cut their way. Critics questioned the glitz, yet locals welcomed the global spotlight on club and town. As confetti cannons boomed, the owners toasted with Dragon’s Breath cocktails and vowed that while the party may be Hollywood the heart of the project remains firmly in Wrexham.
