We’ve loved them for their comedy, have been inspired by them through their community work, watched with attention as they became sports entrepreneurs, and now, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are vying for their next title: technological wunderkinds.
In 2020, the pair turned heads when they acquired Wrexham AFC, the third-oldest professional football club in the world, marking a unique moment in the history of sports team ownership. Against any fears that the hallowed club would be merely a ‘Hollywood plaything’, the new owners, focusing in on a community-focused approach, Wrexham have won the National League for 2022/23 and secure automatic promotion to EFL League Two.
The pair of owners surprised the community once again this week, with an announcement that none other than Hewlett Packard would be joining the club as technology sponsor.
This unexpected merger of technology and football was revealed with as much technical flamboyance as the duo could conjure, leading some to question the extent of their tech prowess.
Reynolds and McElhenney enthusiastically spoke of the news through a video rich in humor and playful nods towards their tech understanding, or lack thereof. Come for the toner, stay for the Robo-sheep.
“Robo-Sheep would be so cool”
Ryan Reynolds, Lead Actor, Green Lantern
The partnership will see HP furnish the Welsh football team with state-of-the-art laptops and PC accessories, supporting the team’s operations both on and off the pitch. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the HP logo will also grace the matchday shirt sleeve starting from the 2023-24 season.
The partnership goes beyond the health of the team, and continues the founders’ commitment to creating a meaningful impact in the local community. Since the pair took ownership of the club, they have been extremely vocal about their project having Wrexham the town at its center, not only the prosperity of the club.
In a joint statement, the club co-chairmen commented: “HP was born in a garage in 1939 and has become one of the leading technology brands in the world. Wrexham Association Football Club was born in a bar in 1864 and is on its way to great things. We could not think of a better partner on this ride, for the club and community. Plus, our tech game really needs an upgrade. Pretty sure we still have flying toasters as screensavers on some of our computers.”
“HP was born in a garage in 1939 and has become one of the leading technology brands in the world. Wrexham Association Football Club was born in a bar in 1864 and is on its way to great things. We could not think of a better partner on this ride, for the club and community. Plus, our tech game really needs an upgrade. Pretty sure we still have flying toasters as screensavers on some of our computers.”
Join Statement by Co-Chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds
HP aims to leverage this partnership to extend its influence beyond the football pitch and into the local community. The company, which aspires to be the most sustainable and just tech firm globally, views the integration of football and technology as a powerful vehicle for fostering global connections. HP’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, Vikrant Batra, echoed this sentiment in his remarks.
More details on this partnership, the implications for Wrexham AFC, and any further comedic interjections from Reynolds and McElhenney are eagerly awaited by fans and followers alike. For the moment, the prospect of a technology-infused future for Wrexham AFC is met with a mixture of amusement and anticipation, and continues to draw attention in a space not particularly known for either its humor or its technical prowess.
Hit the link to the HP Press Room for more info, and feel free to send a DM to Ryan or Rob for any other tech questions.
