Royals Aim To Expand The Mad Stad

Reading FC are in the process of applying for a permit to expand the town`s football stadium, the Madejski Stadium. The expansion is thought to make somewhere in the region of 10,000 extra seats available at home matches.


Club chief executive Nigel Howe announced the expansion plans in his first monthly column for the club`s official website.


Under the subtitle of ‘building for the future` Howe said this on the plans: “We are preparing the programme for the expansion of the stadium,”


‘We don’t know what capacity it will be and what else will be involved but it’s the direction we’re heading in.’


‘I’m being ambiguous about the number of seats because it’s all being worked on. It has to be the right shape, and marry in with everything in terms of design and what we have already.


‘It will certainly add at least 10,000 to the capacity, but the final figure is not decided.’


Ideas had been in the pipeline about stadium expansion since it became apparent last season that Reading would be playing top-flight football. However all planning application submissions were held off in case the club plummeted back down to the Championship and were left with the bill and not enough fans to fill the seats. But due to Reading`s superb start to the season, people in the club are eager to get these plans underway.


The Royals` home turf currently capacitates 24,045 seats, but with the influx of support the club has received since they achieved Premiership status they are hoping to make the room to allow more fans to see the club in action and generate extra revenue that the additional seating would bring.


So far this season the Royals have enjoyed close to sell out games at home, tomorrow`s fixture with Man Utd being completely sold out. The club share the stadium with the Premiership Rugby union club London Irish.