Select Car Leasing Stadium

The Select Car Leasing Stadium, located in Reading, England, serves as the home ground for Reading Football Club. The venue was constructed to replace the club's historic former home, Elm Park, and officially opened on August 22, 1998, with a match against Luton Town. Originally named the Madejski Stadium in honor of the club's former chairman, Sir John Madejski, the facility was designed as a modern, all-seater arena to support the club's ambitions as they moved into the 21st century. The stadium cost more than 50 million pounds to build and was situated in the RG2 area of Reading, near Junction 11 of the M4 motorway. In July 2021, the club announced a ten-year sponsorship agreement that saw the venue rebranded as the Select Car Leasing Stadium. To maintain a connection to the club's history, the East Stand was renamed the Sir John Madejski Stand at the time of the rebranding. Throughout its history, the stadium has hosted significant footballing moments, including the club's rise to the Premier League. Beyond football, the venue has served as a multi-purpose site, hosting various sporting and community events, including the finish for the annual Reading Half Marathon. The stadium remains a central landmark in Berkshire, representing the modernization of English football infrastructure that took place during the late 1990s.