The Mad Stad

[Top Flight]

This is the Daily Telegraph's little take on the Mad Stad. Now that West Ham have played their last ever game at the Boleyn, the DT have been looking at the fortunes of all the clubs that have moved stadium in the past 30 odd years. This is what they have to say about our move.

READING
Moved in: 1997
From: Elm Park, 14,800
To: Madjeski Stadium, 24,161
League at time of move: Championship
League now: Championship

Another anonymous bowl, but one that has undeniably made its team an established fixture in the top two divisions rather than the third tier regulars they have been for much of their history. Reading set a record for winning the highest number of points ever in a season, 106 in the 2005/06 Championship. The stadium itself features a Jazz Cafe, which probably tells you all you need to know about how intimidating it is to visit.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/11/what-happens-next-when-a-team-moves-stadium-every-new-ground-sin/madejski-stadium/

[Forbury Lion]

For balance, they should review the fortunes of the likes of Fulham who have not moved grounds or built a new stadium.

[Top Flight]

They say that we were in the Championship at the time of the move, yet our opening game was against Luton Town in League One.

The stadium was getting built whilst we were in the Championship, but we started life in the new bowl as a League One side.

[Sutekh]

Another load of shoddy journalism, I though we moved in in 1998.

[genome]

Another load of shoddy journalism, I though we moved in in 1998.

I'm not entirely sure how you get that wrong. It's not like there's anywhere on the internet that would tell him we moved in 1997.

[Top Flight]

I didn't spot the 97 one. That's why he thinks we were in the Championship at the time of the move then.

[Top Flight]

Check this out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/09/thought-manchester-city-fans-were-bad-sheffield-united-supporter/

The Sheffield United fan was saying to the Blades players exactly what a Reading fan would have said if anyone had stayed behind for the teams lap of dishonour after the Preston game.

[No Fixed Abode]

Another anonymous bowl

The stadium itself features a Jazz Cafe, which probably tells you all you need to know about how intimidating it is to visit

[One8Seven1*]

I hope he was equally as ignorant towards M'Boro and Derby with their identikit stadiums. Doubt it. The Jazz Cafe is a dire name for the bar though!

[Gunny Fishcake]

Patronising boll*x

[blueroyals]

Of all the embarrassing "match day" experience things they could have mentioned they chose the Jazz Cafe?

I suppose the ghey Thai song, the ADHD PA bloke, the stupid goal music, the siren, the pirates of the caribbean music or the postman pat theme tune were too embarrassing to mention?

[tmesis]

Check this out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/09/thought-manchester-city-fans-were-bad-sheffield-united-supporter/

The Sheffield United fan was saying to the Blades players exactly what a Reading fan would have said if anyone had stayed behind for the teams lap of dishonour after the Preston game.

Maybe clubs will realise that having a lap of appreciation after a poor season is a really poor idea.

Then again, I remember Kevin Dillon moaning about Reading fans not staying after our last game in 2006/7, saying lacked passion, although that was a limp 0-2 defeat against Watford, when a win could have clinched a place in Europe the following year.


It might not be so bad if they did the walk round the pitch straight after the final whistle.

[Kuhl_Runnings]

Of all the embarrassing "match day" experience things they could have mentioned they chose the Jazz Cafe?

I suppose the ghey Thai song, the ADHD PA bloke, the stupid goal music, the siren, the pirates of the caribbean music or the postman pat theme tune were too embarrassing to mention?

So much +1 to this

Also Queensley, the "Kingsley's Capers" thing on the scoreboard, the family fun zone, etc. etc. etc.

[Maneki Neko]

these things are not aimed at you, and have no effect on you

[Top Flight]

these things are not aimed at you, and have no effect on you

He might be 6 years old. You never know!

[Maneki Neko]

just a super cool hipster 6 year old

yep, could be

[blueroyals]

these things are not aimed at you, and have no effect on you

Does the club aim anything at me? Other than a letter once a year asking for £450?

*takes a look at the website*

Oh look, a picnic on the pitch.......

[floyd__streete]

The novelty of the Madejski Stadium has long since worn off. At the time it was state of the art and an upgrade in terms of facilities on what we had. Nearly 20 years on it remains a faffy journey by public transport through Reading's gridlocked traffic, parking at the stadium itself is horrendous and the alternative options are not much more desirable, the place is a bit grubby and in need of a bit of a spruce up, the concourses are drab and overcrowded. I have visited just about all of the modern stadia which have sprung up in english professional football over the past 20 years and from the point of view of an away fan only the Ricoh Arena is frankly a worse visit that the Madejski. An away venue with little to commend about it, imagine having to visit 23+ times a season.....

[Rollerbob]

Nearly 20 years on it remains a faffy journey by public transport through Reading's gridlocked traffic, parking at the stadium itself is horrendous and the alternative options are not much more desirable, the place is a bit grubby and in need of a bit of a spruce up, the concourses are drab and overcrowded. I have visited just about all of the modern stadia which have sprung up in english professional football over the past 20 years and from the point of view of an away fan only the Ricoh Arena is frankly a worse visit that the Madejski. An away venue with little to commend about it, imagine having to visit 23+ times a season.....

And lots of people are still moaning about "Royal Elm Park"

[Royal Ginger]

these things are not aimed at you, and have no effect on you

I mostly agree, however the Kingsley Caper thing keeps annoyingly catching my eye as does the bit in the Thai airlines advert where it pans away over the clouds.