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Sunderland Ground
Name: Stadium Of Light |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Future Ground Developments Outside The West Stand (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? The Kronenbourg North Stand & East Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car And Where To Park By Train/Metro By Air The Carling North Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme & Fanzines Fixtures 2007-2008 Ground Layout Stadium Tours Why Was It Named The Stadium Of Light? Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Fans Ground Reviews Other Places Of Interest Own A Share In Sunderland plc Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| The stadium
was opened in 1997, after the Club left their
former home of Roker
Park where they had played for 99 years. The
stadium is totally enclosed and is truly magnificent.
I would say that it is one of the best stadiums in England. It is composed of two three tiered stands (at one end
and one side of the pitch), whilst the others are two tiered.
Unfortunately, sitting at the back of the highest tiers means a limited
view of the majority of the stadium, hence the feeling of being a bit cut
off. The West
Stand also has a row of executive boxes (which
you can sit outside if you wish). There is a large electronic scoreboard at either
end. You really have to experience not only the stadium but also the
occasion that is Sunderland to believe it. Away fans are housed at one end of the stadium,
in the two tiered Metro FM (South) Stand. Currently, with half the stadium being larger than the other, it looks a little imbalanced from the away end. However, looking at the larger stands, one feels that if the Club added a tier to the remaining sides an even more remarkable stadium would emerge. Outside the stadium there are some reminders of the former Monkwearmouth 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! The stadium was voted as the 'Best Away Ground' in the Football League Awards in 2007. |
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| Future Ground Developments | |
| Kevin Davis informs me; 'The club have secured planning permission to add another 7,200 to the Metro FM (South) Stand, which would take the capacity to 55,000. The club have not yet confirmed when (if ever) they will go ahead with this. If the club then proceed after this to add another tier to the McEwans Stand the the final capacity would be around 64,000'. | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| If you can only get to one stadium this season, then go to this one. I found the stadium almost overwhelming, 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 U2's 'Elevation', as the teams come out of the tunnel) and the Sunderland supporters exceptionally friendly (I was even given a Sunderland shirt by one supporter!). But bear in mind you are not allowed to smoke or swear inside the stadium. If you persist with either you may find yourself being ejected from the ground! Away fans are located in the South Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 3,000 fans can be housed. The facilities and views of the playing action from this stand are excellent. On the food front, the delicious 'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.10) is available inside the stadium, along with pasties (£2.10), sausage rolls (£1.60), cheese burgers (£2.60), chicken burgers (£2.70) and hot dogs (£2.50). Alcohol is also available at £2.60. | |
| Where To Drink? | |
| There are bars inside the ground, however they get really
crowded. I would recommend the William Jameson (Wetherspoons pub) in the centre of town
for a drink before or after the game, as it has a great atmosphere. Graham Dutton
recommends the new Yates's bar opposite Wetherspoons. Whilst Maurice Perry
informs me; 'Try Idols on High Street West, in the city centre, which has good beer and
scantily clad barmaids and dancers. The beer is not bad too! Away fans are
welcome'. Whilst Jason Adderley a visiting West Brom
fan adds; ''The
Albion pub, on Victor Street, off Roker Avenue, is a five minute walk from the ground, with
some parking nearby. I've used this pub the last three times I've
visited Sunderland with West Brom. 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'. Stephen Lundell informs me;
There are also another
couple of bars worth mentioning, both a five
minute walk away form the stadium, on the road approaching the Wearmouth
bridge on the North (Stadium Side) of the river. There are two social clubs
- The Sunderland Companions club, and the Democratic Club, which both get
very busy, and will offer a warm welcome to away supporters, and serve cheap
beer'. 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 has previously been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, serves good beer, 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. |
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| How To Get There By Car And Where To Park | |
| 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, so 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 was solid when I went so allow plenty of time for your
journey. For a map showing the location of the ground
click
here
(to take
you to the Street Map website). |
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| By Train/Metro | |
Chris Rutter informs me; "Sunderland train station in the city
centre is walkable from the stadium (around 15 minutes). From the train
station, exit between W.H.Smith and the bakery. Turn left and walk down "High St
West" and then turn left again and walk
up Fawcett St to the Wear Bridge. From here you can see stadium as it is on raised ground.
Simply cross the bridge, and turn left into Millennium Way, opposite the Wheatsheaf
pub (home fans only). The away turnstiles are located on the side of the ground which is
straight ahead". |
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| By Air | |
| The nearest airport is Newcastle which is located 24 miles away. However the journey is pretty straightforward as both the Stadium Of Light and Newcastle Airport are both served by the Metro transit system. There are frequent departures to Sunderland and the journey time is just under an hour. | |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Newcastle United, Middlesbrough. | |
| Admission Prices | |
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Sunderland operate
a two category system of ticket pricing (A
& B) whereby the most popular matches will cost more to watch than the
least popular ones. Category (B) ticket prices
are shown in brackets. All Areas Of The Stadium: Adults - £30 (£20) Concessions - £25 (£20) Juniors - £10 (£8) |
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| Programme & Fanzines | |
| Red & White Review
Official Programme £3 A Love Supreme Fanzine £2 Sex & Chocolate Fanzine £1.50 The Wearside Roar Fanzine (TWR) £2 Address: TWR, Byron House, Unit 10, Seaham Grange Ind. Estate, Seaham, Co.Durham, SR7 0OPY. Tel: 0191-528-5004 Fax: 0191-516-6346 E-Mail: twreditor@compuserve.com Subscriptions: £25 for 10 issues |
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| Fixtures 2007-2008 | |
| For the Sunderland fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). | |
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| Stadium Tours | |
| The Club offer regular tours of the stadium. These cost £6 for adults and £4 for concessions. A family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) is also available at £18. For tour times and availability ring the tour hotline on 0191-551-5055. | |
| Why Was It Named The Stadium Of Light? | |
| Malcolm Dawson informs me: 'The Stadium of Light was so named for two reasons; Firstly, it is built on the site of the former Monkwearmouth Colliery and the name was chosen to reflect the heritage of the area and honour the men who worked in the region's collieries. In fact outside one corner of the stadium is a giant Miners Lamp. Secondly, the name was also chosen as to 'illuminate' the way ahead for the Club'. Geoff Hall adds; 'Part of the story about the naming of the stadium was because at the top of the former colliery lift a sign read 'Into the Light'. SAFC wanted links to the industrial history of the place, hence the stadium name. The gates on the west side of the ground have 'Into the Light' written on them to recall this fact'. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| Record Attendance: At The Stadium Of Light: 48,353 v Liverpool, Premier League, April 13th, 2002. At Roker Park; 75,118 v Derby County, FA Cup 6th Round Replay, March 8th, 1933. Average Attendance: 2006-2007: 31,887 (Championship) 2005-2006: 33,904 (Premier League) 2004-2005: 28,821 (Championship) |
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| Other Places Of Interest | |
| If you want to make a weekend of it, then perhaps stay in the little seaside area of Sunderland, called Seaburn, just to the north of the city. I found it pleasant enough. Derek Gull a visiting West Ham supporter and Adrian Dunmore both recommend that if you are staying overnight, then head for South Shields where the nightlife is pretty good. | |
| Fans Reviews | |
|
David Wallace
(Stoke City) 8/5/05 Martin Hart (Visiting Scottish Fan) 30/10/04 Robin Dalgliesh (Middlesbrough) 22/3/03 Lee Roberts (Doing The 92) 22/12/01 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Sunderland page click here. | |
| Own A Share In Sunderland | |
| Framed Share allow you to buy a genuine share for someone else, which you can then give to them unframed, or in a frame of your choice. The recipients name will be on the share certificate, which shows that the person is now a shareholder in Sunderland plc. As a shareholder that person will receive the annual accounts of Sunderland plc and allow them to attend the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of the Club, where the Clubs senior officials attend and take questions. To find out more on how to purchase a share in Sunderland AFC for yourself or someone else click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me and I'll
update
the guide. |
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