Wrexham vs Birmingham is the 'Hollywood derby' funded by celebrities and attracting fans in the USA to 'immersive reality' venues - it could be the most surreal League One game ever, writes IAN HERBERT
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If Birmingham City had their way, their team’s League One game against Wrexham on Thursday night would be taking place in the USA, though the EFL are understandably reluctant. But the so-called ‘Hollywood derby’, pitching Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney against City’s Tom Brady may still prove to be the most watched British third-tier game of all time, with CBS broadcasting it coast-to-coast in the USA, Sky Sports and talkSPORT broadcasting it live, and nearly 3,000 US fans watching it on ‘immersive’ domes in Los Angeles and Dallas.
![[Wrexham's rise up the divisions has been funded by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/08/94423675-14316459-Wrexham_s_rise_up_the_divisons_has_been_funded_by_the_Hollywood_-a-2_1737622182830.jpg)
There are strong suggestions that Brady, the former American Football quarterback who had David Beckham with him when City beat Wrexham 3-1 at St Andrews in September, will be present in North Wales. As always, Wrexham’s co-owners’ plans are a closely guarded secret, though the LA fires may have affected any plans McElhenney had to travel. It is thought that Birmingham’s guests may use a landing spot for three helicopters at Wrexham’s JCB factory. Reynolds often uses the local Hawarden Airport.
![[NFL legend Tom Brady has a minority stake in Birmingham and took in the reverse fixture in the company of David Beckham]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/08/94423669-14316459-NFL_legend_Tom_Brady_has_a_minority_stake_in_Birmingham_and_took-a-1_1737622182811.jpg)
Such is the surreal new world of these clubs, both of whom have claims to grandeur coming into the game. City have certainly been the superior side in the season to date – two points clear at the top of the table with two games in hand, thanks to the largest spending spree in League One history last summer, which secured strikers Jay Stansfield and Alfie May and Japanese defensive midfielder Tomoki Iwata.
![[Thousands of fans will be watching in 'immersive reality' domes in Los Angeles and Dallas. The above image shows supporters watching a gigantic screen]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/08/94423823-14316459-Thousands_of_fans_will_be_watching_in_immersive_reality_domes_in-a-6_1737622182833.jpg)
Stansfield and May have scored 22 goals between them this season, while Wrexham have struggled to find the net, with Paul Mullin, star of Reynolds’ and McElhenney’s documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ a shadow of past seasons, and Jack Marriott out injured since October.
![[The 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary has catapulted their popularity over multiple series]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/08/94423673-14316459-The_Welcome_to_Wrexham_documentary_has_catapulted_Wrexham_s_popu-a-5_1737622182831.jpg)
