Madejski Stadium Explained

Select Car Leasing Stadium
Nickname:The Mad Stad[1]
Fullname:Select Car Leasing Stadium
Location:Junction 11
M4
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 0FL
Coordinates:51.4222°N -0.9828°W
Opened:22 August 1998
Publictransit: Reading Green Park (1.5km (00.9miles))
Surface:SIS Grass
Construction Cost:£50m (£m in)
Tenants:Football
Reading (1998–present)
Reading Women (2020–present)
Rugby Union
London Irish (2000–2020)
Richmond (1998–1999)
Seating Capacity:24,161[2]
Dimensions:105m x 68m (football) [3]
Record Attendance:24,184 (Reading v. Everton; 17 November 2012)
23,709 (London Irish v. London Wasps; 16 March 2008)

The Madejski Stadium, currently named the Select Car Leasing Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Reading. It is the home of Reading Football Club, who play in EFL League One. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon. It is an all-seater bowl stadium with a capacity of 24,161 and is located close to the M4 motorway and Reading Green Park railway station. The West Stand contains the Voco Reading Hotel.

The stadium was opened on 22 August 1998 and replaced Elm Park as Reading's home ground. It was named after John Madejski, who was chairman of Reading FC and provided most of the funding.

History

In January 1990, the Taylor Report made all-seater stadiums compulsory in the top two divisions of English football for the 1994–95 season. Having played in the second tier of the English league several times before, Reading were champions of Division Two in 1994, and were promoted to Division One. Reading became subject to the Taylor requirements. Converting Elm Park to an all-seater stadium was not practical, so a location in Smallmead (to the south of the town) was identified as the site for a new stadium.[4] The location of a closed landfill, the site was purchased for £1, on the condition that the club develop the A33 relief road. Construction of the new stadium, which was undertaken by Birse Group,[5] was underway by 1997, and the last competitive match at Elm Park took place on 3 May 1998 against Norwich City, with Reading losing 1–0, having already been relegated to Division Two.[6]

Reading began the 1998–99 season at the Madejski Stadium. It was opened on 22 August 1998 when Reading beat Luton Town 3–0, with Grant Brebner scoring the first goal at the stadium. Following the death of academy manager Eamonn Dolan in 2016, the North Stand was renamed as a memorial to him.[7]

For the first time in its history, Reading Football Club participated in the Premier League in the 2006–07 season. As a result of the sell-out crowds for their first few fixtures of the season, the club announced its intention, in October 2006,[8] to make a planning application to extend the ground to between 37,000 and 38,000 seats. The application was made on 24 January 2007, proposing initially the extension of the East Stand with a further 6,000 seats (raising capacity to around 30,000) and subsequently extension of the North and South Stands to reach the full proposed capacity.[9]

On 24 May 2007, it was announced that planning permission had been granted to extend the stadium to a capacity of 36,900.[10] The first phase will expand the East Stand by 6,600 seats. Work was set to start in mid-2008, after the initial plan of extending in 2007 was scrapped due to spectator seats being affected, during the work, already being sold to season ticket holders.

Reading's relegation from the Premier League in 2008 meant that all expansion plans were put on hold, but were revived when promotion was again achieved in 2012.[11]

Plans to expand the ground were again put on hold after Reading were relegated back to the Football League Championship at the end of the 2012–13 season after a goalless draw at home to QPR on 28 April 2013.

In July 2021, at the beginning of the 150th anniversary season, it was announced that the Madejski Stadium had been rebranded as the Select Car Leasing Stadium for the next ten years. In honour of Sir John Madejski, the East Stand was renamed as The Sir John Madejski Stand.[12]

Structure and facilities

The stadium cost more than £50m to build and the pitch incorporates a system of synthetic fibres interwoven with natural grass, installed at a cost of more than £750,000. It is built on the site of a landfill site and is surrounded by methane vents.

The Eamonn Dolan Stand capacity is 4,946 including 25 spaces for wheelchairs.[13] Although in use for all Reading matches, the stand was normally closed for London Irish and only opened in exceptional circumstances where demand required.

The South Stand has a capacity of 4,350 including 29 wheelchair spaces and contains an area for visiting supporters. The initial allocation visiting teams received up until the 2022–23 season was 2,127 and is the half of the stand joining onto the West Stand. The other half of the South Stand is Club 1871, a home fans member area, which encourages safe standing to create a matchday atmosphere. Under the terms of their original lease, London Irish only utilised the South Stand for the most popular matches. However, with the original renegotiation and extension of the lease, the South Stand was used for all London Irish matches with an unreserved seating plan. London Irish sold season tickets for South Stand between 2008 and 2014–15. Since 2015, with falling attendance at London Irish, the South Stand remained closed for rugby and only opened if required.

The Sir John Madejski Stand (East) has a capacity of 7,286 including 18 spaces for wheelchairs.[13] The stand also contains the stadium's video screen which is located in the corner adjoining the South Stand. The stand was open for all London Irish fixtures only until the end of the 2015–16 season and again for the 2017–18 and 2019–20 seasons.

The West Stand, the stadium's main stand, has a capacity of 7,579 including 15 wheelchair spaces and contains a lower and an upper tier. The upper level does not overhang the lower tier and the executive boxes are located between the two tiers. The tunnel and dugouts are located in this stand. During the 2016–17 and 2018–19 seasons, the West Stand was the only stand in regular use for London Irish home games. The outside of the stand contains the Voco Reading hotel, a member of InterContinental Hotels Group's Voco chain]. From the 2023–24 season the initial allocation for visiting fans will be located in the upper west corner.

International football

The stadium has hosted five England under-21 internationals. These were as follows.

Year Date Opponents Result Attendance Part of
1999 3 September 5–0 18,094 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 5
2001 14 August 4–0 19,467 International friendly
2002 15 October 3–1 15,500 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 7
2006 28 February 2–2 15,022 International friendly
2013 5 September 1–0 5,268 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 1

An England B match was also held at the stadium.[14]

Other international matches.

Year Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Attendance Part of
2003 7 September 2–1 8,050 International Friendly
2013 7 September 0–2 Club v Country Friendly

Rugby union

Although a designated football stadium, the stadium was used regularly since opening for rugby union. Richmond were the first rugby team to become Reading's tenants, using the stadium from its opening season in 1998 after outgrowing their original home of Richmond Athletic Ground. This tenancy lasted only one season as Richmond went into administration and were nominally merged into London Irish.

London Irish moved into the stadium in 2000 after a year of ground sharing with Harlequins at the Stoop Memorial Ground in Twickenham. On 11 January 2008, it was announced that London Irish had reached an agreement to continue playing home games at the stadium until 2026.[15] However, they were to leave after the 2019–20 season.[16] London Irish played their last game at the stadium on 1 March 2020 when they were defeated by Wasps. The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the season causing a premature end to their tenancy and forcing them to return to the Stoop for the remainder of the elongated season.

Irish saw their average crowds grow to more than 11,100 after moving to Reading in 2000, holding the record for the biggest rugby union Premiership attendance at a club ground, when 23,709 people saw Irish play Wasps (then London Wasps) on 16 March 2008.[17] This record stood until 19 September 2009, when Leicester Tigers opened their new stand to increase capacity to 24,000.

In addition to London Irish home matches, the stadium has also hosted several knock out phases of European cup rugby where a neutral ground was required or where teams were required to play at a larger capacity ground.

Year Date Home ScoreAway Attendance Competition
20 May NEC Harlequins 42–33 Narbonne11,211 2000–01 European Challenge Cup Final
25 May 30–48 London Wasps 18,074 2002–03 Parker Pen Challenge Cup Final
22 May Montferrand 26–27 NEC Harlequins 13,123 2003–04 Parker Pen Challenge Cup Final
23 April Saracens 24–17 16,820 2015–16 European Champions Cup Semi-final

Music

Besides football, the Madejski Stadium can be configured to hold other events, including concerts.

On 13 June 2004, Busted played at the Madejski Stadium, with an attendance of 20,000.[18] [19]

On 26 May 2005, Elton John played at the Madejski Stadium in front of a crowd of 24,000.[20] [21] Reading FC supporters were given priority, with tickets going on sale on the 9 December 2004 ahead of the general sale on 14 December.[22] This was followed by XS Madness on 6 June, attended by 9,000. The event featured multiple performers including McFly, Rachel Stevens, Charlotte Church, Bananarama and Melanie C.[23] [24]

Luciano Pavarotti was due to perform the stadium on 1 July 2006, after being delayed from the 11 June due the singer's neck surgery to repair two vertebrae.[25] His final public performance was at opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, before his death in 2007 from pancreatic cancer. He underwent surgery in early July 2006, with all his remaining concerts being cancelled.[26]

On 3 July 2006, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played the Madejski Stadium as part of their Stadium Arcadium World Tour,[27] with a crowd of 28,000 turning up for the event.[28]

On 1 June 2013, the AllStarz Summer Party was held. JLS performed, with the headliner being Jessie J.[29]

Other uses

The Madejski was selected as the venue for a charity friendly football match on 3 May 2006, featuring celebrities and football legends from England and Germany. The Match, named England vs Germany: The Legends was held to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund and the British Red Cross and to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of England winning the 1966 World Cup. The German team won the match 4–2, in an exact reversal of the score from 1966, in front of a crowd of 20,000.[30]

The stadium is also the final venue for the Reading Senior Cup.[31]

Runners finishing the Reading Half Marathon cross the finish line inside the stadium. The stadium is also used as a hub for pre- and post-event services e.g. public transport terminus and bag drop during the day of the event.

A match from the 2000 Rugby League World Cup was also held here.

From February 2021 onwards, the stadium was used by the NHS as a mass vaccination centre as part of the nationwide vaccine rollout, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.[32]

Records

The highest attendance at the stadium was 24,184 (apparently exceeding the stadium's stated capacity) on 17 November 2012 for the Premier League game with Everton beating the previous record of 24,160 set on 16 September 2012 for the Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur. The highest attendance for a cup match at the stadium was 24,107 on 3 December 2003 for the Football League Cup match with Chelsea.[33]

Highest attendances

Opponent Competition Date Attendance Notes
1Everton2012–13 Premier League17 November 201224,184Stadium's stated capacity at the time was 24,242
2West Ham United2012–13 Premier League29 December 201224,183Stadium's stated capacity at the time was 24,242
3Tottenham Hotspur2012–13 Premier League16 September 201224,160
4Manchester United2007–08 Premier League19 January 200824,134
5Tottenham Hotspur2007–08 Premier League3 May 200824,125
6Aston Villa2006–07 Premier League10 February 200724,122
7Liverpool2006–07 Premier League7 April 200724,121
8Newcastle United2007–08 Premier League27 October 200724,119
9Fulham2007–08 Premier League12 April 200824,112
10Tottenham Hotspur2006–07 Premier League12 November 200624,110
11Newcastle United2006–07 Premier League30 April 200724,109
12Chelsea2003–04 Football League Cup3 December 200324,107

Attendances by season

SeasonReading[34] Richmond[35] [36]
Average attendanceHighest attendanceAverage attendanceHighest attendance
DivisionDateOpponentCompetition[37] DivisionDateOpponentCompetition
1998–99Division Two11,262 27 MarchManchester CityDivision Two20,055Premiership7,205 26 DecemberLondon IrishPremiership9,621
1999–2000Division Two8,985 7 AugustBristol CityDivision Two13,348London Irish
2000–01Division Two12,647 16 MayWigan AthleticDivision Two play-offs22,034Premiership6,305 17 MarchNorthampton SaintsPremiership12,037
2001–02Division Two14,115 13 AprilPeterborough UnitedDivision Two22,151Premiership7,254 16 MarchBristolPremiership12,873
2002–03Division One16,011 14 MayWolverhampton WanderersDivision One play-offs24,060Premiership9,916 15 MarchHarlequinsPremiership18,585
2003–04Division One15,095 3 DecemberChelseaLeague Cup24,107Premiership10,571 21 MarchBathPremiership20,840
2004–05Championship17,169 22 JanuaryIpswich TownChampionship23,203Premiership10,312 26 MarchGloucesterPremiership17,111
2005–06Championship20,207 10 FebruarySouthamptonChampionship23,845Premiership10,953 25 MarchSale SharksPremiership19,884
2006–07Premier League23,829 10 FebruaryAston VillaPremiership24,122Premiership10,731 18 MarchLondon WaspsPremiership22,648
2007–08Premier League23,585 19 JanuaryManchester UnitedPremier League24,135Premiership9,950 16 MarchLondon WaspsPremiership23,709
2008–09Championship19,936 3 MayBirmingham CityChampionship23,879Premiership11,378 22 MarchNorthampton SaintsPremiership21,295
2009–10Championship17,408 2 JanuaryLiverpoolFA Cup23,656Premiership14,303 28 MarchSale SharksPremiership21,535
2010–11Championship17,682 27 NovemberLeeds UnitedChampionship23,677Premiership10,339 26 MarchExeter ChiefsPremiership20,011
2011–12Championship19,219 10 DecemberWest Ham UnitedChampionship24,026Premiership10,398 25 MarchLeicester TigersPremiership20,905
2012–13Premier League23,862 17 NovemberEvertonPremier League24,184Premiership9,471 23 MarchWorcester WarriorsPremiership19,523
2013–14Championship19,171 3 MayBurnleyChampionship23,335Premiership9,243 22 MarchBathPremiership22,361
2014–15Championship17,022 16 MarchBradford CityFA Cup22,908Premiership8,943 28 MarchNewcastle FalconsPremiership15,731
2015–16Championship17,285 11 MarchCrystal PalaceFA Cup23,110Premiership8,749 20 MarchGloucesterPremiership17,752
2016–17Championship17,505 1 AprilLeeds UnitedChampionship23,055Championship4,005 18 MarchCornish PiratesChampionship11,671
2017–18Championship16,656 23 DecemberBurton AlbionChampionship21,771Premiership7,748 24 MarchGloucesterPremiership15,274
2018–19Championship14,991 22 AprilWest Bromwich AlbionChampionship17,255Championship3,770 23 MarchDoncaster KnightsChampionship10,106
2019–20Championship11,969 26 NovemberLeeds UnitedChampionship16,918Premiership4,535 22 DecemberBathPremiership9,259
Reading Women
2020–21Championship240 5 December,
9 December,
16 December
Nottingham Forest,
Birmingham City,
Norwich City
Championship2,000 Women's Super League81 13 DecemberManchester UnitedWomen's Super League623
2021–22Championship12,852 12 FebruaryCoventry CityChampionship22,692Women's Super League790 12 SeptemberArsenalWomen's Super League1,127
2022–23Championship13,449 29 AprilWigan AthleticChampionship21,919Women's Super League2,286 27 MayChelseaWomen's Super League6,305
2023–24League One13,159 [38] 27 AprilBlackpoolLeague One18,480[39]
Notes

Transport

On Reading match days, the stadium is served by a network of special bus services provided by Reading Buses and Stagecoach Buses. Two of these (Reading Buses F1 and F2) provide regular shuttle services from Reading railway station and from a park and ride site at Shinfield Park respectively. Fourteen further Reading Bus services provide links from various Reading suburbs and nearby towns and villages, including Newbury and Henley on Thames. Stagecoach services provide links from Basingstoke, Farnborough, Wokingham and Bracknell.[40] [41]

When no matches are taking place, the stadium can be reached from Reading town centre using Reading Buses Greenwave services.[42] [43]

The stadium is also close to Reading Green Park railway station, which also serves the adjacent Green Park Business Park. It is on the Reading–Basingstoke line and opened in May 2023.[44] The new station is just under a 1miles walk from the stadium.

See also

References

Notes
Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Low. Jonathan. Reading FC: Plans to expand Madejski Stadium are still on the agenda. getreading. 23 September 2016. 24 February 2018. dead. 2 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170302144947/https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/reading-fc-plans-expand-madejski-11924519.
  2. Web site: Select Car Leasing Stadium information. readingfc.co.uk. 13 May 2015.
  3. News: 2 July 2007 . Stadium pitch has been lengthened . https://web.archive.org/web/20070822134240/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1065220%2C00.html . 22 August 2007 . readingfc.co.uk . 23 January 2015 . dead .
  4. Web site: The Home Grounds of Reading FC . 2003 . 1871 – The Ultimate Reading FC Website . 2 June 2011 . https://archive.today/20121015213037/http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/madejskistadium/elmpark.htm . 15 October 2012 . dead .
  5. Web site: Birse to build Hull stadium. 25 September 2001. Leisure Opportunities. 20 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Loader. Graham. Reading 0 Norwich City 1. 1998. Hob Nob Anyone?. 2 June 2011.
  7. Web site: The Eamonn Dolan Stand. 5 July 2016.
  8. News: 21 September 2006. Royals ready to extend Madejski . . 28 January 2007.
  9. Plans for stadium expansion will be submitted to the Council later this week . . 22 January 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609120447/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~968826%2C00.html . 9 June 2012 . 23 January 2015 . dead .
  10. News: 23 May 2007. Committee Report by the Director of Environment Culture & Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20080406152702/http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/Committee_Services/Planning_Applications_Committee/-2007-2008/070523/item23-madejskistadium.pdf . 6 April 2008 . Reading Borough Council Planning Applications Committee . 23 January 2015.
  11. Web site: Anton Zingarevich makes Reading Premier League transfer list. BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2012. 18 April 2012.
  12. Web site: Welcome to the Select Car Leasing Stadium!. 16 July 2021 .
  13. http://mobile.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~311866,00.html{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5017924.stm BBC Sport website, 25 May 2006
  15. Web site: London Irish make long term commitment to Madejski Stadium. BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 January 2012.
  16. Web site: Back in Town — The Irish are Returning to London!. London Irish. 18 December 2018. 18 December 2018.
  17. News: Walder inspires Wasps win . 11 January 2008. Sky Sports.
  18. Web site: You're so busted. Get Reading. 14 June 2004. 5 June 2024.
  19. Web site: Madejski Stadium Concert History. Concert Archives. 5 June 2024.
  20. Web site: Review: Elton John. BBC Berkshire. 5 June 2024.
  21. Web site: Pick of the Past: Elton John concert at the Mad Stad. Get Reading. 2 March 2016. 5 June 2024.
  22. Web site: Elton John at the Mad Stad. The Football Network. 3 December 2004. 5 June 2024.
  23. Web site: XS Madness. Concert Archives. 5 June 2024.
  24. Web site: PHOTOS: Summer XS 2005. BBC Berkshire. 5 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Surgery delays Pavarotti concerts. BBC News. 13 April 2005. 5 June 2024.
  26. Web site: Pavarotti faked final performance. BBC News. 8 April 2008. 5 June 2024.
  27. Web site: Red Hot Chili Peppers Setlist . setlist.fm/ . Setlist FM . 17 July 2021 . 3 July 2006.
  28. Web site: Red Hot Chili Peppers. BBC Berkshire. 3 July 2006. 5 June 2024.
  29. Web site: Jessie J to headline AllStarz Summer Party at the Madejski Stadium. Get Reading. 21 March 2013. 5 June 2024.
  30. Web site: Germany in 1966-style charity win. BBC News. 3 May 2006. 19 June 2018.
  31. Web site: Wokingham & Emmbrook win Reading Senior Cup. Berkshire Media Group. Bracnell News. 21 January 2013. 22 May 2012.
  32. Web site: Mass vaccination centre opens at Madejski Stadium Healthwatch Reading . 6 August 2022 . healthwatchreading.co.uk.
  33. Web site: Highest Attendances. Royals Record. 27 May 2012.
  34. Web site: Reading FC. european-football-statistics.co.uk. 19 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619113327/http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/read.htm. 19 June 2018. dead.
  35. Web site: Statbunker » Gallagher Premiership 18/19 » Home attendance. statbunker.com. 9 June 2019.
  36. Web site: Statbunker » Championship 18/19 » Home attendance. statbunker.com. 9 June 2019.
  37. Web site: Reading FC Match Reports. Hob Nob Anyone?. 13 July 2017.
  38. Web site: Sky Bet League One – Average Attendances – Home Matches. Football Web Pages. 6 June 2024.
  39. Web site: Reading – Home Attendances. Football Web Pages. 6 June 2024.
  40. Web site: Buses/Trains for Madejski Stadium . Reading Football Club . 1 June 2015.
  41. Web site: Football Buses - Times and fare information for the 2014/15 season . Reading Buses . 1 June 2015.
  42. Web site: Rugby Buses . Reading Buses . 1 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150622175611/http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/rugby-buses/ . 22 June 2015 . dmy-all .
  43. Web site: Greenwave Madjeski Stadium Park & Ride . Reading Buses . 1 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160110181420/http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/files/timetables/1%20sept%2014/madejski%20times.pdf . 10 January 2016 . dmy-all .
  44. Web site: Breath-taking aerial footage shows entirety of new Reading Green Park Station . . 10 November 2022 . 6 January 2023.