Reading’s final pre-season friendly against Charlton Athletic has been moved away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium after concerns over the condition of the club’s newly laid pitch.
The League One side said Saturday’s match will now be played behind closed doors at Charlton’s home ground, The Valley, with a 14:00 BST kick-off.
Reading said a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather had slowed the development of the new playing surface, meaning it was not ready to host the fixture.
The club said it had taken the decision to protect the pitch ahead of the start of the 2026-27 League One season, when Reading host Luton Town in their opening league match.
Despite the change of venue, Reading and Charlton Athletic will stream the match live and free of charge for supporters. Details of how to watch will be announced before kick-off.
Fans who bought tickets for the match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium will receive a full refund, with the club saying further information on the refund process would be communicated directly.
Reading co-chief executive Joe Jacobson said the decision had been made after taking expert advice.
“This is not a decision anyone at the club wanted to make, but it is the right one,” he said.
“We’ve invested significantly in providing the team with the best possible playing surface for the season ahead.
“Unfortunately, the recent spell of hot and dry weather has slowed the development of the new pitch and, after taking expert advice, we’ve concluded that protecting it now gives us the best chance of having it in the condition we all want for the start of the League One campaign.”
Jacobson apologised to supporters who had been looking forward to returning to the stadium, saying the club understood their disappointment but believed the move was in its long-term interests.
He also thanked Charlton Athletic for helping to rearrange the fixture and said the club looked forward to welcoming fans back for the league opener against Luton Town.
