- Stadium Name: Stadium of Light
- Year Opened: 1997
- Capacity: 48,707
History of the stadium
Welcome to the home of Sunderland Association Football Club, the Stadium of Light. Sunderland moved here in 1997, having spent a number of successful years at Roker Park prior. At the time, it was the biggest stadium built in England after the Second World War.
The Stadium of Light officially opened on 30 July with Prince Andrew in attendance when Sunderland hosted Ajax in a friendly to celebrate their move to a new home.
Sunderland opted for a move from Roker Park due to the lack of expansion opportunities, with the Stadium of Light built just a few hundred metres away in the mid-1990s.
At the time of opening, it had a capacity of 42,000, which was increased to the current capacity of just under 49,000 in 2002, with even more room for expansion at a future date if the demand is there.
Stadium of Light stands
Roker End (South Stand)
- Constructed: 1997
- Capacity: 12,325
Jimmy Montgomery Stand (West Stand)
- Constructed: 1997 (Renamed 2025)
- Capacity: 12,317
North Stand
- Constructed: 1997
- Capacity: 10,482
East Stand
- Constructed: 1997
- Capacity: 13,876
Notable matches at the Stadium of Light
- Sunderland 0-0 Ajax, 1997 – The first ever match at the Stadium of Light.
- Sunderland 3-1 Man City, 1997 – First competitive fixture at the Stadium of Light
- England 2-0 Turkey, 2003 – First competitive England match
- Sunderland 2-1 Man United, 2014 – Carabao Cup semi-final
- Sunderland 3-0 Everton, 2016 – Sunderland secured safety, relegating Newcastle
- Sunderland 1-0 Bradford, 2019 – Sunderland break League One attendance record
How to get to the Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is easily accessible for supporters, with a direct Metro line allowing fans to fast-travel to the ground. The Sunderland station is a short walk away from the stadium.
Sunderland’s home certainly has issues when it comes to traffic on matchdays, with just one main exit and often 40,000 people using it.
Address: Stadium Way, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR5 1SU, United Kingdom