American television royalty, an NFL legend and a global football icon.

And yet, by the end, Rob McElhenney, Tom Brady and David Beckham were only the cameos to the top billing at St Andrew’s.

Because, as Birmingham City and Wrexham reminded us in Blues’ 3-1 victory, no-one comes to a game to look at the stands.

Yes, there was the fascination of the surreal nature of it all, the high-profile directors’ box unlike anything League One had seen before.

And few would deny the importance of the financial and ambitious drive of the owners to their respective clubs – and in somehow making a third-tier game a must-watch to audiences beyond the EFL regulars.

But, as ever with football, it is what happens on the pitch that will always create the best drama and the best headlines.

And it is how the support reacts that sucks everyone in, whether among the A-list stars or in the cheapest seats, it is the same mix of atmosphere and adrenaline. The addictive hope, the crushing blow of a comeback, the rush of getting carried away with what could be next.

It was all there at St Andrew’s. For Wrexham fans wondering if they can continue their incredible rise only to be reminded of the size of the challenge. For Birmingham fans loudly believing they can return to bigger and better things.

Football has that habit of being the great unifier.

Perhaps even more so at this level. The headliners may be used to the elite, but here in the third tier, it is all a little more raw and more raucous, a little more desperate and dreamy.

It is why Blues minority shareholder Brady, of unparalleled success in his own sport, was the same as scores of other home fans as they celebrated what already felt like a significant performance and result.

It is why Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds – only present courtesy of a video call from fellow chairman McElhenney – had to take the mocking songs in good humour.

And it is why, by the end of it, the talk was more of Jay Stansfield’s goals, of tempers boiling over, and of waiting until the ‘Hollywood’ rematch at the Racecourse in January.