Stadium of Light expansion images emerge as Sunderland objection made
Sunderland are considering an expansion to the Stadium of Light in the near future.
Life back in the Premier League has brought mixed results so far, with Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat away to Burnley subduing the euphoria that emerged from the opening-day victory at West Ham.
However, despite the latest defeat, Sunderland supporters are still incredibly optimistic for the campaign ahead, as shown by the level of support.
Not only was West Ham a sell-out crowd, but the next two home league games are also expected to follow suit, leading to the possibility of the Stadium of Light being expanded.
Sunderland City Council propose new Sheepfolds development
Sheepfolds is the surrounding area of the Stadium of Light, and the Sunderland City Council have been looking to develop it with the addition of 600 new apartments and other facilities.
However, the plans are claimed to encroach on a buffer zone of Sunderland’s stadium, which could prevent a future expansion if demand increased.
Sunderland City Council have since claimed that the planned development will not have any impact on Sunderland’s ability to expand the Stadium of Light, though concerns are still lingering on Wearside.
Sunderland objected to the development, as seen via GOV.uk on 13 August, sharing concept of images of the expansion, which can be seen below.
As of right now, the Stadium of Light has an official capacity of 48,707, though because of safety segregation, the maximum attendance is much lower.
Sunderland supporters have already joined a waiting list for season tickets, and if the Black Cats can avoid the drop this season, the demand will only increase further.
Should an expansion happen, the capacity could be increased to 63,000, which would steadily increase the revenue flow and allow supporters to attend games.
What has Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said about the Sheepfolds development?
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has already expressed his concerns over the impact that the Sheepfolds development could have on the Stadium of Light.
As quoted by the Independent, he said: “As the custodian of Sunderland AFC, it is my duty to safeguard the future of our club.
“This includes the Stadium of Light – the beating heart of our city.
“Unfortunately, Sunderland City Council has recently taken steps relating to the Sheepfolds development that could have catastrophic operational consequences on our club and, by extension, our community.”
“We will be submitting a formal objection against the proposals relating to the Sheepfolds, and I encourage all city stakeholders to come together and join us in protecting the future of our football club and the City of Sunderland.”
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