Ramboll uses GIS and BIM to design 5,500‑seat Kop stand at Racecourse Ground

Wrexham, Wales, August 20, 2025

News Summary

An engineering and architecture team led by Ramboll has been hired to design a new 5,500‑seat Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground. The project combines geographic information system (GIS) mapping with 3D building information modeling (BIM) to create a shared digital environment that fits the stand into a constrained neighborhood site adjacent to active rail lines. Integrated GIS‑BIM workflows enable clash detection, drainage and traffic planning, and sustainability features like solar panels and stormwater management. The stadium upgrade is tied to wider town regeneration plans, including transport improvements and non‑match‑day amenities to boost local economy and tourism.

Ramboll blends GIS and BIM to design a new 5,500‑seat Kop at the Racecourse Ground as stadium revival drives wider city renewal

Key point: An engineering and architecture team has used advanced mapping and 3D modelling to fit a 5,500‑capacity Kop stand into the tight urban fabric around the historic Racecourse Ground, while club owners push a programme of stadium improvements tied to broader city regeneration.

What happened first

The Racecourse Ground, long recognised as the oldest international football stadium still in use, needed repair when new private owners took control of the local club. Modernising the venue became an early priority. An engineering and design firm was brought in to develop a replacement stand and other upgrades while minimizing disruption to the surrounding neighbourhood and active rail lines next to the site.

How the design team approached the problem

The project team used a combined workflow of geographic information system (GIS) maps and building information modelling (BIM) to create detailed, linked digital models of the site and its context. These digital environments served as a shared source of truth across disciplines. Data moved freely between GIS and BIM platforms, allowing environmental and design staff to work from the same up‑to‑date views of the site.

Previously, design and environmental teams often worked in separate silos with specialised tools that did not share information easily. The new integrated workflow allowed environmental data captured on site to feed directly into BIM models used by designers, forming connections that were difficult to achieve before. That integration let designers bring multiple building models into one place and check how utilities, pathways, drainage and structural elements would fit together in the real ground conditions.

Why integration matters on this site

The stadium sits embedded in a built neighbourhood and is adjacent to live rail infrastructure. A design misstep could weaken community support that has been essential to the project’s success. By merging maps and models the team could anticipate conflicts early and avoid discovering problems during construction. The integrated view also helped teams design water drainage, traffic flow, stormwater management and sustainability features such as solar panels before work began on site.

Project goals and scope

• The planned new Kop stand will hold 5,500 people.
• Design priorities include fitting the stand into the neighbourhood layout, managing drainage, and improving pedestrian and vehicle flows around the ground.
• Sustainability measures and non‑match‑day amenities are part of broader planning that includes transport links, a hotel, retail and office space.
• Digital modelling was used to reduce risk and move the team from reactive problem solving to proactive risk mitigation.

Who is leading the digital effort

The firm’s UK and Ireland digital hub manager coordinated the merged GIS and BIM approach. The method relied on dynamic visualizations combining GIS‑powered maps and 3D BIM models so planners, engineers and environmental teams could see the same information and fine‑tune designs to existing ground conditions.

Context beyond the construction

Ownership of the club brought new financial resources and marketing reach, and the team’s rise through the leagues has fuelled local momentum. The club advanced from lower levels of the league system to the second tier in recent seasons, with a surge in global interest and media attention that has supported increased tourism and economic activity in the town and surrounding area.

Local planning now ties stadium upgrades to a wider push to revive the city centre, attract visitors for concerts and international fixtures, and boost businesses such as hotels, restaurants and shops. Renovations are expected to expand the ground’s ability to host events beyond match days and support a longer season of activity for the local economy.

Team and squad notes that affect planning

On the sporting side, the club has been active in the transfer market following promotion, looking to refresh the squad for the coming season. Some experienced players have already left, and the team is exploring free agent options and other signings to strengthen the midfield and add proven second‑tier quality. Those sporting moves are part of a larger push to sustain higher match attendances and commercial opportunities tied to the stadium improvements.

Local impact and community care

Designers and owners have emphasised that the stadium needs to fit the town and maintain community backing. The work aims to respect the ground’s history while modernising facilities in ways intended to benefit residents, visitors and the local economy. The integrated GIS‑BIM approach is presented by the project team as a tool to help manage that balance carefully and transparently during design and delivery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Key project features

Feature	Details
New stand capacity	5,500
Design tools	GIS and 3D BIM integrated workflow
Primary design goals	Fit within neighbourhood, manage drainage and traffic, add sustainability features
Site constraints	Embedded urban setting and adjacent active rail lines
Project lead	Ramboll digital hub coordination (UK and Ireland)
Wider aims	City centre regeneration, increased tourism, more non-match-day uses
Risk approach	Proactive conflict detection via merged GIS‑BIM models to reduce on-site surprises

This article is intended to inform about the design approach and community context for stadium upgrades and related local planning. It summarises technical and civic aspects of the project without endorsement.

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Additional Resources

• Forbes: Wrexham — How one stadium project eliminated the construction inefficiency problem
• Wikipedia: Racecourse Ground
• NBC Los Angeles: Wrexham AFC — the club’s incredible journey
• Google Scholar: Wrexham regeneration
• The Wrexham Insider: Opinion — Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney could revive the career of Premier League ace at Wrexham
• Google Search: Ryan Reynolds Wrexham
• Christian Science Monitor: Can a soccer team revive hope in a Welsh city? Welcome to Wrexham
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Wrexham
• New York Times: Wrexham AFC — Reynolds, McElhenney and a Welsh city’s revival
• Google News: Wrexham AFC