Madejski Stadium

I came to The Madejski Stadium in late 2013, while in London and I had a nice experience here. I called with my friend, who is a Reading supporter and season-​card holder, They don’t normally do Stadium tours, but the lady on the front desk was very nice, and offered to take my friend and I around the stadium, as long as I didn’t mention Reading being relegated (Oops)
This is actually quite a nice stadium for a Championship club, named after Sir John Madejski who used to own the club, and is now Co-​Chairman and Life President (I believe)
The stadium has a capacity of just short of 25,000 so a little smaller than the average Premier League stadium, but pretty average for the Championship really.
Aviva Premiership Rugby club, London Irish play here too, in a stadium located in Reading, just off Junction 11 of the M4.
The stadium its-​self was built and opened in the late 1990’s and it is just a single tier on each tier, apart from one side where they is two.
Inside the grounds, where you can pick up refreshments, it isn’t the nicest of areas, and seemed a little old fashioned compared to other stadiums I have been too, such as The Etihad, St James’ Park and Wembley, but it wasn’t too bad either, for a Championship club and of course beating Rochdale and Hyde FC.
Around the ground they its lots of posters and signs from the club’s history, such as their 106 point mark they won the Championship by, the most recent promotion winning team, signed shirts, Trevor Senior’s 184 goals etc, if you want to see more take a look at my pictures, they are all nice and colourful, and give the stadium a better feeling and vibe, and a better place for the fan.
I was shown in the dressing rooms, somewhat, they weren’t too impressive but they were not set out ready for the tour, nothing was, but still the stadium was nice, clean and quiet.
I was even ended the tour with a few match programs from past Reading games, and even a historic one.
This is a nice stadium, obviously it doesn’t compare to most of the other stadiums I have visited, as I have visited a wide range of major stadiums: Wembley, Anfield, The Berneabu, The Nou Camp, Allianz Arena etc, and some parts of the stadium were not really impressive, and for a new stadium just felt a little old fashioned.
The staff were really nice in offering me the tour though and shown me around what they could, and I can’t fault that but still I feel I can only give a solid 3 stars as the stadium wasn’t really impressive, and was merely average for a team like Reading.

I was attacked by a random, rabid boat, the kind that one person rides on the water and stands up on. It was a Madjetski. I hated it so much that I actually hate this stadium because of it, since this stadium is named after the Madjetski.
Actually it’s named after the owner, or former owner, and that’s one of the reasons I’m giving the stadium 4 instead of 5, since I don’t like him.
First-​Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium — I’ve been to the Madejski probably 10 or more times, because it’s only half an hour from my house in England (or rather my mother’s), and about 45 mins from my Dad’s place for that matter.
It’s a spanking shining new stadium which is very close to being 5 stars. I think the fact that it cost me and my friends an absolute fortune to go here at a time when the club wasn’t even in the top tier, is why I can’t give it 5. But in terms of facilities it is absolutely top notch. I was last here in 2014, just recently, and it was amazing.
I’ve been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review — like all my reviews — are from first-​hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was «stuck» in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I’ll post later. Also, when back in UK I’ll take more pix, and add more stadia!
*** return to regular review ***
It’s a fantastic stadium with an amazing atmosphere, absolutely gorgeous, but the price of tickets, parking, and so on, is not conducive with a stadium in a smaller city like Reading, and as much as I have a spiritual connection to Reading (due to a good concert and a car rental agency), I can’t give it more than a 4. It opened in 98, it cost 50 mil, and it’s right at Junction 11 of the M4. London Irish play here too.
It’s known as the Mad Stad, by the way. Oh, and hi Sherri.

It’s a bit odd (I think) for an American (and a female at that) to be writing the first review of a sports stadium in England, but I will do my best. After all, I grew up rooting for the 49’ers and Raiders. Madejski Stadium is home to the Reading Football Club. Ha! Before you make fun of me, I do know that «football» here is actually what Americans know as soccer. Now this stadium is also home to the London Irish, a rugby team. And as far as I can tell, the stadium is quite popular with the fans.
Some interesting facts:
*The field is actually a complicated and expensive blend of synthetic fibers interwoven with the natural grass.
*People have weddings out here (
)
*There’s a shuttle between the stadium and the train station. Okay, so that’s not so interesting. How about this:
*The metallic posts topped with cylindrical discs surrounding the stadium are methane gas vents, built to accommodate the underground build-​up of gases. Madejski Stadium was built on a landfill!
*People have weddings out here. Worth repeating.
*Finally, there are 24,000+ seats, most of which have excellent views of the playing field.