The Allyn family, which owned Welch Allyn in Skaneateles and has been involved in other business and philanthropic ventures in central New York, bought a minority stake in an increasingly popular soccer team owned by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.聽
, a club in Wales that plays in League One of the English football system, announced the transaction Wednesday. To make the investment, the Allyn family formed a joint limited liability corporation, Red Dragon Ventures, with The R.R. McReynolds Company, which is owned by McElhenney and Reynolds.聽
According to a news release, Red Dragon Ventures was created to "drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC."聽
McElhenney and Reynolds are investing in Wrexham outside of their ownership of the soccer club. They , a local brewery.聽
People are also reading…
"Wrexham has earned the world's attention and we are focused on bringing on board world-class partners to help with the next phase of our growth," McElhenney and Reynolds said. "We have been fortunate to get to know the Allyn family and we are blown away by their intelligence, kindness and commitment. They are exactly the type of partners we will need for this amazing endeavor."聽
Wrexham's Andy Cannon celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match between Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham, at Ewood Park stadium, in Blackburn, England, Jan. 29.
In central New York and beyond, the Allyn family is best known for its ownership of Welch Allyn. The medical device manufacturer was founded in 1915 and聽sold 100 years later, in 2015, to Hillrom. Baxter International acquired Hillrom in 2021.聽
The Allyn Family Foundation remains active in the region by investing in various initiatives and projects, including the Salt City Market in Syracuse. The market opened in 2020.聽
"For more than a century, our family has focused on building great companies, while also uplifting wonderful communities," Eric Allyn said. "Our decades-long efforts in the Syracuse region are similar to what Rob and Ryan started in Wrexham. We view Red Dragon Ventures as a vehicle to invest in a world-class football club and importantly, in the welcoming community of Wrexham."聽
Terms of the minority investment were not disclosed.聽
Wrexham AFC is the third-oldest professional soccer team in the world. McElhenney and Reynolds bought the club in 2020.聽
When McElhenney and Reynolds became Wrexham AFC's owners, the team was in the National League 鈥 the fifth tier of the English football system. The club has been promoted in each of the last two seasons, to EFL League Two in 2022-23 and EFL League One in 2023-24.聽
As of Wednesday, Wrexham AFC is third in the EFL League One standings this season.聽
The club's successes have been highlighted in "Welcome to Wrexham," which airs on FX. The docuseries, which features McElhenney and Reynolds, has helped boost the profile of the team.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.
Robert Harding
Online producer/politics reporter
