A football stadium’s name change usually feels like wallpaper — you notice it once, then forget. But the story behind the Select Car Leasing Stadium in Reading goes a lot deeper than a sponsorship deal, touching a club buried under £55 million of debt and a takeover that brought a U.S. lawyer to the M4 corridor.

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Official name: Select Car Leasing Stadium ·
Former name: Madejski Stadium ·
Capacity: 24,161 (all-seater) ·
Location: Reading, Berkshire, England ·
Home team: Reading FC ·
Opened: 1998

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact matchday opening times — always check the club site
  • Full terms of the naming-rights deal were never disclosed
  • Whether the stadium name might change again under new ownership
3Timeline signal
  • 1998: Stadium opens as Madejski Stadium
  • 2021: Renamed Select Car Leasing Stadium
  • 2025: Rob Couhig’s Redwood takes over club and stadium
4What’s next
  • New ownership aims to stabilise Reading FC’s finances
  • Potential future investment in stadium facilities
  • Naming rights deal continues under Select Car Leasing

What is Select Car Leasing Stadium?

The Select Car Leasing Stadium is the current sponsored name of what was built as Madejski Stadium — a 24,161-seat, all-bowl football ground in Reading, Berkshire, England. It opened on 22 August 1998 with Reading hosting Luton Town (StadiumDB (stadium database)). The club moved here from their old home at Elm Park, which was deemed unsuitable for redevelopment.

The stadium was built on a former landfill site and cost around £50 million (StadiumDB (stadium database)). Its location near Junction 11 of the M4 makes it accessible by road, though the on-site parking is mostly reserved for permit holders (The Real EFL (EFL-focused football guide)).

Twelve facts that define the venue:

The table below captures the stadium’s core dimensions, ownership history, and operational details.

Label Value
Full name Select Car Leasing Stadium
Former names Madejski Stadium (1998–2021)
Location Reading, Berkshire, England
Coordinates 51.4223° N, 0.9828° W
Capacity 24,161
Opened 22 August 1998
Owner Reading FC (under new ownership 2025)
Operator Reading FC
Surface Grass
Naming rights sponsor Select Car Leasing
Record attendance 24,160 (Reading vs Everton, 2012)
Former tenants London Irish Rugby Union

The pattern: a purpose-built modern ground with decent capacity for League One, but one that’s never been expanded — a proposed 36,900-seat upgrade was put on hold (StadiumDB (stadium database)). The club’s financial instability under previous ownership made any expansion unlikely.

Who plays at the Select Car Leasing Stadium?

Reading FC — nicknamed the Royals — have called this ground home since 1998. The men’s first team currently competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English football. The women’s team and youth academy sides also play occasional matches here (Reading FC official site (club operator)).

Why this matters

A League One club hosting matches at a stadium that once saw Premier League football — the drop in status reflects the financial crisis that engulfed the club under Dai Yongge’s ownership.

London Irish Rugby Union club were also tenants at the stadium until they moved out in 2020 (Football Tripper (travel and stadium guide)). That arrangement gave the stadium dual use, though it has since reverted to football-only.

Bottom line: Reading FC secures the stadium’s purpose as a League One venue, while the women’s team and youth sides share the pitch; London Irish’s departure ended the dual-sport era.

Who is Select Car Leasing?

Select Car Leasing is a UK-based car leasing broker headquartered in Reading’s Green Park business park — right next door to the stadium (Select Car Leasing (stadium naming rights partner)). The company secured the naming rights in 2021, renaming the ground from Madejski Stadium to Select Car Leasing Stadium as an expansion of their existing principal partnership with Reading FC.

The partnership includes community outreach and behind-the-scenes initiatives, though the exact financial terms of the deal have not been made public.

Bottom line: A Reading-based car leasing company put its name on the stadium in 2021; the undisclosed deal value and geographic proximity make this a close corporate-local tie.

What are the key visitor details for Select Car Leasing Stadium?

Address and transport links

  • Address: Junction 11, M4, Reading, RG2 0FL (StadiumDB (stadium database))
  • Also listed as Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL
  • By road: just off Junction 11 of the M4, easy to reach from London, Bristol, and the South East (The Real EFL (EFL-focused football guide))
  • By train: Reading railway station is about 2 miles away; a shuttle bus runs on matchdays

Parking and accessibility

  • On-site parking is limited and mainly reserved for permit holders (The Real EFL (EFL-focused football guide))
  • Advance booking strongly recommended for matchday parking
  • Additional parking available at nearby retail parks and business parks
  • The stadium is wheelchair accessible with dedicated spaces and facilities

Opening times on matchdays

  • Stadium typically opens around 2 hours before kick-off
  • Exact times can vary by fixture — always check Reading FC’s official site
  • Ticket office and club shop open from 10:00 AM on matchdays

Contact and ticket information

  • General enquiries through readingfc.co.uk
  • Tickets available online via the club’s official ticket portal
  • Telephone enquiries routed through the club office on matchdays
Bottom line: The M4 Junction 11 location makes the stadium road-accessible, but limited on-site parking forces advance booking; the club site remains the single source for matchday timings.

What is the financial situation of Reading FC and the stadium’s ownership?

Debt and ownership under Dai Yongge

Reading FC accumulated roughly £55 million in debt under the ownership of Chinese businessman Dai Yongge, who bought the club in 2017. The debt piled up through high transfer spending and operational losses, eventually leading to multiple transfer embargoes and points deductions (BBC Sport (UK news broadcaster)). The stadium itself was owned by the club and included in the asset base that prospective buyers were considering.

Rob Couhig’s takeover bid

Rob Couhig, a U.S. lawyer and former owner of Wycombe Wanderers, led a takeover through his company Redwood Holdings. The deal was completed in 2025, bringing an end to years of uncertainty for Reading fans (BBC Sport (UK news broadcaster)). Couhig’s experience with a smaller EFL club — he owned Wycombe from 2020 to 2024 — gave him a direct understanding of League One’s financial realities.

Current status of the sale

The takeover is finalised. The stadium remains part of Reading FC’s assets under the new ownership structure. Speaking at the completion of the deal, Couhig said “Reading FC has a proud history and a dedicated fanbase. Our focus is on stabilising the club and building a sustainable future” (BBC Sport (UK news broadcaster)).

The catch

The naming-rights deal with Select Car Leasing was struck under Dai Yongge’s ownership. With Couhig now in charge, there’s no immediate sign the name will change — but in football, sponsorship agreements often get rewritten after a takeover.

Bottom line: Reading FC was drowning in £55m debt under Dai Yongge; Rob Couhig’s 2025 takeover through Redwood Holdings finally gave the club a path forward. The stadium name stays for now, but the new owner has no obligation to keep it long-term.

Timeline

The timeline below traces the stadium’s three distinct ownership and naming phases since 1998.

Date/period Event
1998 Madejski Stadium opens as home of Reading FC (StadiumDB (stadium database))
2021 Naming rights sold to Select Car Leasing; stadium renamed (StadiumDB (stadium database))
2023–2025 Owner Dai Yongge places club in financial distress with £55m debt (BBC Sport (UK news broadcaster))
2025 Rob Couhig’s Redwood Holdings completes takeover of Reading FC and the stadium (BBC Sport (UK news broadcaster))

What this means: the stadium has experienced three distinct eras in under 30 years — a fresh-built Premier League ambition, a sponsorship identity shift during financial chaos, and now a rescue ownership that has one job: keep Reading FC alive.

Additional sources

allegiantstadium.com

Related coverage: UK car leasing options fördjupar bilden av Car Leasing Deals UK – Cheapest from £190/Month.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Select Car Leasing Stadium have a retractable roof?

No, the stadium is an open-air, all-seater bowl with no retractable roof.

Can I take a stadium tour?

Stadium tours are available — check Reading FC’s official website for availability and booking.

Is the stadium wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the stadium has wheelchair-accessible seating, entrances, and facilities. Contact the club in advance for specific arrangements.

How do I get to Select Car Leasing Stadium by train?

Reading railway station is about 2 miles from the stadium. A matchday shuttle bus operates from the station on matchdays. Taxis are also available.

Are there hotels near the stadium?

Yes, several hotels are located within a mile of the stadium, including Premier Inn Reading M4 J11 and Holiday Inn Express Reading South — both a short walk or taxi ride away.

What is the record attendance at the stadium?

The official record attendance is 24,160 for Reading versus Everton on 17 November 2012 (The Real EFL (EFL-focused football guide)).

Can I host an event at Select Car Leasing Stadium?

Yes, the stadium is available for corporate events, conferences, and private functions. Contact Reading FC’s commercial team for enquiries.

What is the telephone number for Select Car Leasing Stadium?

General enquiries are handled via Reading FC’s official club number, listed on their website. There is no dedicated stadium phone line.

For Reading FC fans and the people of Berkshire, the Select Car Leasing Stadium isn’t just a sponsored name on a gate — it’s the site of a club clawing its way back from the brink. The naming-rights deal gave the ground an identity during a chaotic period. The new ownership now has a chance to make that name stand for something steadier. For anyone planning a visit, the ground is easy to reach, the view is good from every seat, and the story behind it is worth a second look before kick-off.