Stadium of Light

With the sixth largest capacity of any football stadium in England, The Stadium Of Light has been Sunderland’s home since they left the much loved Roker Park in 1997. The stadium hasn’t just been used for Sunderland matches, though; it’s also been the location of England international games and numerous concerts.

General information

Arena capacity: 49,000 spectators

Address: Sunderland SR5 1SU, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 54.9146° N, 1.3884° W

Year of construction: July 1997

Construction cost:  £24 million

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 115 × 75 yards (105 × 68 metres)

Seating plan of the Stadium of Light

The Club moved to the Stadium of Light in 1997, after leaving their former home of Roker Park where they had played for 99 years. The stadium is of a good size, is totally enclosed and on the whole is quite impressive. It is composed of two three-tiered stands (at the North end and the West side of the pitch), whilst the others are two-tiered.

The West (Main) Stand on one side also has a row of executive boxes (which you can sit outside if you wish), that are situated just below the top tier. Currently, with half the stadium being larger than the other, it looks a little imbalanced, when looking from the Roker Stand. However, if at some point the Club were to add an additional tier to the two remaining sides, then an even more remarkable stadium would emerge. There is also a large video screen perched upon the roof at either end.

Outside the stadium, there is a statue of former FA Cup winning manager Bob Stokoe, as well as some reminders of the former Wearmouth Colliery, on the site of which the stadium was built. Behind the West Stand, there is a large red wheel, an emblem of the lifts that used to take the miners down to the mines.

Also outside one corner of the stadium is a large miners lamp. If you feel a little mischievous, then ask the nearest Sunderland fan whether it is a Geordie Lamp. Don’t worry you won’t get any physical abuse, just a long lecture that the lamp is, in fact, a Davy lamp!

In December 2018 the club renamed the South Stand, the Roker Stand, in tribute to their old ground, following a vote by fans.

Away fans

Away fans are now housed in the Upper Tier of the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 3,000 fans can be housed for league games. The away turnstiles are numbered 69-72. For cup games then up to 9,000 visiting supporters can be accommodated in this tier if demand requires it). Although the facilities are fine in this area, you do have to climb a large number of flights of stairs to reach this top tier.

It almost feels if this area has been ‘tucked in’ under the stadium roof, as it comes down over this section. It means that if you are sitting towards the back of the tier, then although you can see the pitch, you get a limited view of the majority of the rest of the stadium, giving the feeling of being a bit cut off from it all.

On the food front, then the club offers; Fish & Chips (£5.50), Various Pies (£3.50) including the Chicken Balti Pie, Cornish Pasties (£3) and Jumbo Sausage Rolls (£3).

When people ask which grounds are ‘the best’ to visit, then Sunderland inevitably comes out as one of top five recommendations. On its day the place can be rocking, the PA system deafening (especially when the classical piece ‘Dance Of The Knights’ from Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ is played before the players come on to the pitch at the start of the game and the Futurehead’s ‘Beginning of the Twist’, as the teams come out of the tunnel) and the Sunderland supporters exceptionally friendly. But bear in mind you are not allowed to swear inside the stadium, so if you persist you may find yourself being ejected from the ground!

Where to buy tickets?

On the one hand Sunderland’s ticket pricing is quite easy to understand, with matches split into different categories and then priced accordingly. On the other hand, the club doesn’t give away much information about the prices for junior fans or concessions.

Here we’ll give you the most expensive and the cheapest adult prices in each category as they’re the only ones we can tell you with any degree of certainty.

League Games:

• Category A – £32 – £40;
• Category B – £27 – £35;
• Category C – £25 – £30.

Tickets are available through the club’s official website or the telephone ticketing line. You might also see people offering tickets near to the ground on the day of the match but they should be avoided. Chances are they may not be real tickets and, even if they are, it will probably go against the club’s ticketing terms and conditions if you buy a ticket from an unofficial location.

How to get there?

Exit the A1 at Junction 62, the Durham/Sunderland exit and take the A690 towards Sunderland. After about eight miles, you will reach a roundabout, at which turn left onto the A19, signposted for the Tyne Tunnel. Stay in the left hand lane and take the second slip road towards Sunderland (signposted Stadium Of Light, A1231 Sunderland). This takes you onto a bridge crossing over the River Wear. Turn right onto the A1231 following the signs for Sunderland. Go straight over four roundabouts into Sunderland.

Then go through two sets of traffic lights (keeping in the left hand lane at the second set, going straight on towards Roker rather than the city centre) and you will see the Stadium car park on your right, about a mile after the traffic lights.

However there is only limited parking at the ground itself and there is a residents only parking scheme in operation on streets close to the stadium (especially on the estate behind the North Stand). So please check for any warning signs on lamp posts before parking, or you may end up with a hefty parking ticket for your trouble.

Instead you can park at the Stadium of Light Metro Station (cost £4) or alternatively, you can park in the city centre and walk to the ground (about 10-15 minutes). The traffic for a couple of miles around the ground is solid to allow plenty of time for your journey.

There is also a ‘Park & Ride’ scheme in operation on matchdays, free for both home and away supporters. This is situated at Sunderland Enterprise Park, which is well signposted just off the A1231. Buses run every five minutes, for 90 minutes before kick off and continue after the game until everyone has gone. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Stadium of Light via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: SR5 1SU

By train

Sunderland Railway Station is located just under one mile away from the Stadium of Light and takes around 15-20 minutes to walk. You will exit the station opposite Greggs. Turn right out of the station heading up towards a JJB Sports store and walk through the gap between JJB and a nail bar to the right of JJB.

Keep walking straight ahead and within 100m you will see the Stadium Of Light rising up in front of you over the Wearmouth Bridge. Simply cross the bridge, and turn left into Millennium Way, opposite the now closed Wheatsheaf pub. The away turnstiles are located on the side of the ground which is straight ahead.

The Metro stations called the ‘Stadium of Light’ and ‘St. Peters’ both serve the stadium. The metro provides regular and rapid transport from both Newcastle and the South of Sunderland. Both stations are only a few minutes walk from the stadium, although away supporters should alight at St Peters Station as that is closer to their entrance. This provides an alternative to the regular rail services.

Please note though that after the game the Stadium of Light metro station only operates Northbound (i.e. towards Newcastle) and St Peters metro station only operates Southbound (i.e. towards Sunderland centre). If you are going into Newcastle after the match then then it may be an idea to walk walk into the centre of Sunderland (10-15 minutes walk) and get metro from there. You will get a seat and also avoid the large crowds at the Stadium of Light station.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the Trainline website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets.

By bus

Buses 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 15 and 16 all call within a few minutes of the ground. If you’re based in or around the city’s outer limits then know that all main routes in the Wearside region call at the main Sunderland bus station, Park Lane Interchange.

By taxi

A taxi journey from the train station to the ground will take between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on the traffic, and will cost around the same amount.

Facilities

The Stadium Of Light boasts a family friendly atmosphere and all of the facilities that you might expect from a Premier League ground. Though the prices of food and drinks are a little on the expensive side, there are at least plenty of places to buy them on the concourses around the ground. You’ll also find a number of betting kiosks in the stadium, too, should you want to have a gamble on the outcome of the match.

Hospitality

There are the sort of hospitality packages at The Stadium Of Light that you’d expect from a top-level Premier League club. If you’re looking for a more informal, relaxed environment, for example, then the Black Cats Bar might tickle your fancy, for example. You can wear your Sunderland top whilst you have a home-cooked dish of the day, enjoy a cash bar and then take your padded seat in The Carling Stand.

If you want something a little more formal from your match-going hospitality experience then you might want to consider the Business Lounge. You’ll have to wear a jacket and a top with a collar, but in return you’ll be welcomed with a drinks reception, tapas canapés and a pre-match buffet. You’ll also be given a tour of the dressing room before the match, tea, coffee and cakes at half-time and refreshments and savoury snacks at full-time.

One of the top-level hospitality experiences you can have at The Stadium Of Light can be found in the Executive Club. You’ll get a behind the scenes tour, a guest appearance from a former Sunderland player or two and you’ll also get to witness the man of the match presentation. You’ll also get a three-course meal, private bar facilities and a padded seat on the halfway line.

Private hire

The sheer volume of lounges and bars at The Stadium Of Light mean that the private hire options at the club are virtually endless. Quinn’s Bar, the Black Cats Bar and Magic Moments Bar are all ideal locations for smaller, more informal gatherings like birthdays and Christenings. Meanwhile the Business Lounge, the James Herriot Suite and the Carling Lounge offer alternative locations for more robust gatherings.

There are also 54 executive boxes available at the ground and these are ideal for presentations, interviews and breakout meetings from larger presentations. The Montgomerie Suite is ideal for just such large-scale events, from corporate presentations through to conferences or award ceremonies.

As well as fun, formal events like proms, The Stadium Of Light is also registered to host weddings and civil ceremonies. Whether you want to follow more traditional wedding-day protocols or you’re keen to have a personal ceremony, the staff at the stadium will help you out with everything you want. If you are a big Sunderland fan then what better way is there to celebrate your big day than at the club’s home ground.

Pubs & Bars Near

The Club have opened a Fan Zone which is located outside the South East part of the stadium. The area has entertainment in the form of live bands, large screens etc.. Plus food and drink outlets. It is available to both home and away supporters. It is open three hours before kick off and for one hour after the game has ended. Entry is free.

There are two social clubs; the Sunderland Companions club, and the New Democratic Club, both on North Bridge Street (the road approaching the Wearmouth Bridge), which are about a five minute walk away from the stadium. Although they get very busy they do welcome away supporters, and serve reasonably priced beer.

The Albion pub, on Victor Street, off Roker Avenue, is a five minute walk from the ground, with some parking nearby. Always friendly and the landlord even puts on complimentary snacks after the game. Otherwise, there is a chippy a couple of doors away. An all-round top boozer.

Just across the road from the stadium (near to the entrance where the Davy Lamp is situated) is the Colliery Tavern. Although predominantly a home fans pub, it does allow in away fans and you will have an enjoyable time on your visit. It shows live football on a number of tv’s and to cope with the large number of fans it has a marquee outside, also serving beer as well as a burger van.

One of the best pubs north of the river where where you can find parking and walk to stadium pre match is called “The Avenue”. Away fans are always welcome to this large pub, which is only ten minutes walk to stadium and only a few minutes from Stadium of light Metro station. It is located on Zetland Street just off Roker Avenue.

If you have a bit of time of your hands, then you may like to try the Harbour View on the sea front, which is around a 15-20 minute walk away. Simply go along Roker Avenue (opposite the main entrance to the stadium) until you reach the seafront. Turn left along the front and you will see the pub up on the left.

The pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, serves good beer (up to six ales), reasonably priced food (with its own matchday menu) and has a large screen television. As the name of the pub suggests you get some good views along the coast from its location. There is Wolsey just down from the Harbour View. It has some real ales and a large eating area and outside decking with glass windbreaks.

But by far the best pub is the William Jameson on Fawcett Street in the city centre. It is a Wetherspoons pub that does get busy before and after the game, but they put on plenty of bar staff, so you don’t have to wait long to get served.

Otherwise, alcohol is also available inside the stadium, in the form of Carling Lager (£4), Carling Cider (£3.80) and Worthingtons (£3.80) and various wines (£3.90). However, for certain games the Club opt not to sell alcohol to away supporters. The Club also offer 2 Pies and 2 Pints for £12.

Hotels

Sunderland is a large, sprawling city, so the hotel options you have available to you are numerous. Here are some specific selections, though, if you want some ideas.

1. Best Western Roker Hotel – £40+. Address: Roker Terrace, Sunderland, SR6 9ND. Best Westerns aren’t the fanciest chain hotels around, but they’re functional. This one is located less than a mile and a half from the ground and has three restaurants, meeting rooms and a conference centre.
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2. Sunderland Marriott Hotel – £79+. Address: Queens Parade Seaburn, Sunderland, SR6 8DB. The Marriott in Sunderland is just over two miles away from the stadium and has two restaurants, an indoor pool and free parking.
3. Hideaway at Herrington Hill – £110+. Address: Newbottle, Houghton le Spring, DH4 4NH. A little further afield from The Stadium Of Light at just under 5 miles away, the Hideaway at Herrington Hill is an upscale guesthouse with free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast available.
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History

During their history Sunderland have played in seven different stadiums. The longest amount of time they’ve spent in one place was at Roker Park, the club’s ground until they moved to The Stadium Of Light. The Stadium Of Light, or SoL as it’s known for short, was officially opened by Prince Andrew, The Duke Of York.

When the ground opened it had a capacity of 42,000 that was increased to around 49,000. The stadium features a Davy lamp monument outside of it, a reminder of the Monkwearmouth Colliery that it was built on top of. The name of the ground is also a tip of the cap towards Sunderland’s mining past. Benfica, the Portuguese club, is called Estadio da Luz, which, when translated, means The Stadium Of Light. This is purely coincidental.