Home of Sunderland AFC

Opened 1997

Capacity 49,000

Rating: 4.4

(5289) Google Reviews

Nice stadium of the beautiful club Sunderland AFC. Good facilities for 90’s standards. We went for the match against QPR which unfortunately ended in 0-0. More than 41,000 people attending, excellent attendance for a Championship club and testament of the local support through thick and thin. Crowd lately with low expectations after 5 losses and dropping out of the playoffs ranking. As a result little chanting and crowd interaction other than the usual complaints in the typical Northeastern fashion. Let’s hope next season brings better fortunes for Sunderland AFC and promotion to the Premier League.
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a week ago
I recently visited the football stadium and was overall impressed with my experience. The high capacity of the stadium ensures a vibrant atmosphere during matches, and its convenient location with easy access adds to the overall positive impression. However, navigating the stairs in the away end proved challenging, and the stadium's distance from the southern and central cities might be inconvenient for some travelers. Despite these drawbacks, the overall experience was enjoyable, making it a solid 4-star venue.
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3 months ago
This was a treat from my neighbour and good pal Dan...I've never been to a football match in my life and it was on my bucket list.. Totally shocked by all the people cheering...great atmosphere..just unfortunate Sunderland lost 3.0... Many thanks to my Pal Dan for the experience
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2 months ago
Great day out. Took my 10 year old son on new years day and a few times in 2023. Sat in different parts of the ground to find where he likes best to eventually lead him to become a season ticket holder.
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2 months ago
First time at the stadium. Very impressive when you walk out into the stadium. Stewards Very friendly and helpful. Catering staff terrible..no patience..mo understanding of customer needs..rudecat times. And as for the food Absolutely disgusting ..I had avegan pie..it never touched my lips...the inside was all on the outside. It was very slimey..soaky pastry on the bottom rock hard pastry on the top. Went straight in the bin. There were no other vegetarian or vegan options . Can't say the rest of the food lood any better. Pukka Pies disgusting.. So guys, beware and take your own food . But take that away, and as a family, we had a great day away .
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a month ago

History (from Wikipedia)

Following the release of the Taylor Report in January 1990, Sunderland was obliged to make plans to turn their Roker Park home into an all-seater stadium.[6] Roker Park was a ground that mainly consisted of standing terraces, and if converted into all-seater it would have held far fewer spectators than before.[6] Enclosed by residential streets on all sides, expansion was practically impossible. So, by 1991, Sunderland chairman Bob Murray had started to scour the local area for possible sites to build a new all-seater stadium.[6]

The front-runner that emerged was a proposed stadium located on an area of land adjacent to the 
Nissan car plant.[7] The 49,000 all-seater ground was labelled "the Wembley of the North" by Sunderland fans and would boast a capacity that not even Manchester United's Old Trafford exceeded until 1996.[7] The plans did not come to fruition. Shortly after the plans were announced in 1992, Nissan launched an official objection, ultimately forcing Sunderland to abandon the idea.[7] By 1995, the site of the Wearmouth Colliery, which had closed in December 1993, was identified as the club's preferred location for a new stadium.[7] The area, on the north bank of the River Wear in the Sheepfolds district of Sunderland, was only a few hundred yards from Roker Park, and close to the centre of the city.

In 1993, Sunderland's planned new stadium was on the shortlist for 
Euro 96 venues, as England had been named as hosts of the competition in May 1992. However, it soon become clear that a new stadium in Sunderland would not be ready in time for the tournament.

On 13 November 1995, the Sunderland chairman Bob Murray announced that the 
Tyne and Wear Development Corporation had approved plans for Sunderland to build a 34,000-seater stadium on the Monkwearmouth site.[8] Ballast Wiltshier plc, a contracting company that had built the Amsterdam Arena, was contracted to build the stadium at an initial cost of £15 million.[8] In June 1996, as the planned capacity rose to more than 40,000, construction work began.[8] The capacity was revised again in early 1997, and the stadium was completed on time, with a capacity of 42,000.[8] The stadium's design allows possible expansion of a further tier; completed expansion of the whole upper tier would produce a capacity of 63,000, although it is believed by some that the stadium can expand to a maximum capacity of 84,000, this would seem unlikely ever to be exercised.[5]

The stadium was opened on 30 July 1997 by 
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, with bands such as Status QuoUpside Down and Kavana playing. To celebrate the opening of the stadium, Sunderland played a friendly against the Dutch side Ajax, which was drawn 0–0.[8]

The move did not happen without criticism. Famous actor and Sunderland supporter, often named in the media "Sunderland's most famous supporter"
[9]Peter O'Toole, said he wasn't as much a fan as he used to be since the team left Roker Park[10][11]. Playwright Tom Kelly and actor Paul Dunn created a one-man play called "I Left My Heart at Roker Park" about a fan struggling with the move and what Roker Park meant for him - the play originally ran in 1997, and had a few revivals since[12][13][14].

The North Stand was extended in 2000 to bring the capacity to 49,000, costing the club a further £7 million, making the final cost of the stadium £23 million.
[5] On 18 July 2006, a statue of 1973 FA Cup Final winning manager Bob Stokoe was unveiled outside the stadium.[15] At the end of season Football League awards, the Stadium of Light was named the Best Away Ground, with other contenders including Crewe Alexandra's Alexandra Stadium and Plymouth Argyle's Home Park.[16] Sunderland celebrated the tenth anniversary of the stadium with a pre-season friendly against Juventus on 6 August 2007; the game was drawn 1–1.[17]

Things to do in Sunderland.

Gabrieles Restaurant.

6 Reviews
Photo of Robert C.

Lovely neighbourhood Italian on Seaburn seafront. Don't expect high end dining or fancy presentation here, it's good solid Italian fare and none the worse... Read More

Photo of TrevBeeston

Always try and eat here when we return up North. The ambiance is excellent, the food is excellent and the staff are excellent.location is excellent too. If... Read More

Photo of daviemorrison92

It was an ok little restaurant, situated right next to the coast, the service was quite quick and the food was of a medium to high quality. However, the... Read More

Ivy House.

5 Reviews
Photo of Vikki T.

Love to come the the Ivy for a Pizza and a couple of pints. Really good thin and crispy based pizzas made fresh to order in a proper pizza oven. My OH loves... Read More

Photo of rachiio

Great staff, cheap prices, great music but in desperate need of a face lift and I can't even mention the toilets!!! Read More

Photo of maxinebindi

Cheap & Friendly(: Read More