The hit television series Welcome to Wrexham is having an impact on the popularity of the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC. So much so that the number of viewers for last Saturday’s FA Cup qualifying round match which was broadcast live on ESPN2 was comparable to other recent soccer matches on US television. In fact, Wrexham’s debut on ESPN2 averaged 89,000 viewers, according to Showbuzz Daily.
And that number doesn’t include the significant (but unreported) number of viewers who watched the game on ESPN+.
Wrexham’s ESPN2 debut is a sign of things to come
How does Wrexham’s debut on ESPN2 against the Blyth Spartans compare to the top-tier league in the United States, Major League Soccer?
On the October 9 MLS Decision Day telecasts, ESPN2 averaged 103,000 viewers, while FS1 averaged 54,000 viewers.
For the 2022 MLS regular season, ESPN broadcasts averaged 343,000 viewers for games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. To get to that 343,000 average, 10 of those games were on ABC over the air.
What is most notable is that Wrexham are in the fifth tier of the English football system, while the Blyth Spartans are in the sixth tier.
It’s also worth noting that Wrexham’s ESPN2 debut was on a Saturday morning with play kicking off at 8am ET and 5am PT.
ESPN on the Wrexham AFC train
Interest in the Welsh club is growing in large part due to club owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, who have brought Wrexham into homes across the United States courtesy of the Welcome to Wrexham programme.
The show’s popularity has resulted in the second season being greenlit.
Wrexham’s FA Cup replay against Blyth airs Tuesday, October 18 at 2:45pm ET, live on ESPN+.
