Stadium of Light facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stadium of Light

UEFA
Full name	Stadium of Light
Address	Millennium Way
Location	Monkwearmouth, Sunderland England SR5 1SU
Public transit	Stadium of Light St. Peter’s
Owner	Sunderland
Capacity	49,000 – football 60,000 – concerts
Record attendance	Football: 48,353 (Sunderland v Liverpool, 13 April 2002) Concerts: 60,000 (Ed Sheeran, 3 June 2022)
Field size	115 × 75 yards (105 × 68 metres)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	May 1996
Opened	1997 (1997)
Expanded	2000
Construction cost	£24 million
Architect	PNF Architects
Main contractors	Ballast Wiltshire
Tenants
Sunderland (1997–present)

The Stadium of Light is a large football stadium in Sunderland, England. It is the home ground for Sunderland Football Club. The stadium can hold 49,000 fans, making it one of the biggest football stadiums in England.

The stadium's name, "Stadium of Light," was chosen by chairman Bob Murray. It honors the coal mining history of the North East region. The stadium stands on the site of the old Monkwearmouth Colliery coal mine. A special monument, shaped like a Davy lamp (a lamp used by miners), stands at the entrance. This reminds everyone of the mining industry that helped the town grow.

Besides hosting Sunderland's home games, the stadium has welcomed the England national football team for several matches. It has also been a stage for famous music stars like Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, and Coldplay. The stadium also has places for meetings, a club shop, and a special bar for fans.

Building the Stadium

Why a New Stadium Was Needed

In 1990, new rules called the Taylor Report said that all football stadiums needed to have seats for every fan. Sunderland's old home, Roker Park, had mostly standing areas. If it was changed to all-seater, it would hold far fewer people. Also, Roker Park was surrounded by houses, so it couldn't be made bigger.

Because of this, Sunderland's chairman, Bob Murray, started looking for a place to build a new stadium in 1991.

Finding the Perfect Spot

At first, there was an idea to build a stadium near the Nissan car factory. Fans were excited, calling it "the Wembley of the North." But Nissan didn't agree, so the club had to find another spot.

By 1995, the club found a great location: the old Wearmouth Colliery site. This coal mine had closed in 1993. The new site was very close to Roker Park and the city center.

Exterior of the West Stand

Construction Begins

On November 13, 1995, plans were approved for a 34,000-seat stadium. A company that built the Amsterdam Arena was hired. In June 1996, construction started, and the stadium was finished on time in 1997 with 42,000 seats. The design allowed for future expansion, which happened later.

Sunderland AFC players at the Stadium of Light

The stadium officially opened on July 30, 1997. Prince Andrew, Duke of York was there, and bands like Status Quo performed. To celebrate, Sunderland played a friendly match against the Dutch team Ajax, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Some fans missed the old Roker Park. A play called "I Left My Heart at Roker Park" showed how one fan felt about the move.

Growing Bigger

In 2000, the North Stand was made bigger, increasing the stadium's capacity to 49,000 seats. This cost an extra £7 million.

On July 18, 2006, a statue of Bob Stokoe, the manager who led Sunderland to win the 1973 FA Cup Final, was put outside the stadium. In 2007, Sunderland celebrated the stadium's tenth birthday with a friendly game against Juventus, which was a 1-1 draw.

The Stadium's Name

Choosing "Stadium of Light"

While it was being built, people called the stadium names like "Wearside Stadium." The official name, "Stadium of Light," was announced on July 30, 1997.

Bob Murray explained that the name was inspired by the Coal mining history of the area. He said, "Miners at Wearmouth Colliery carried a Davy lamp. This name lets the image of this light shine forever."

Davy Lamp outside of the Stadium of Light

A statue of a miner's Davy lamp was placed outside the ticket office to show this connection.

A Unique Name

Some fans were unsure about the name at first. They worried it was too similar to S.L. Benfica's home stadium in Portugal, which is called Estádio da Luz (often translated as "Stadium of Light").

However, Bob Murray clarified that Benfica's stadium is named after the "Luz" area, like how some stadiums are named after streets. He said Sunderland's stadium is the only one with this name, chosen specifically for the region's history.

In 1997, after Diana, Princess of Wales passed away, the government asked if the stadium could be renamed after her. Murray said no, believing the stadium should honor the local miners who worked in darkness.

"Of Light" Everywhere

The "Of Light" part of the name became a special part of Sunderland's identity.

• The club's training ground is called the Academy of Light.
• A charity linked to the club is the Foundation of Light.
• The Beacon of Light is a sports and education center next to the stadium.

Stadium Design and Features

A plan of the layout of The Stadium of Light. The shaded area indicates the section designated for away fans.

The Stadium of Light is shaped like a square bowl. It has four main sections: the Jimmy Montgomery Stand (West), North Stand, East Stand, and the Roker End (South). The Roker End was renamed in 2018 after a poll by fans, bringing back a name from the old Roker Park.

Inside the stadium, there's a wide area called the concourse. Here, you'll find entrances, food stalls, bars, and restrooms. Fans can walk around most of the stadium without interruption. The South East corner is a special "Family Zone" with games like PlayStation 4 for younger fans.

Away fans, who support the visiting team, used to sit in the South Stand. In 2012, their section moved to the upper part of the North Stand.

The Pitch

The football field itself is lower than the ground outside the stadium. It uses a special lighting system called Stadium Grow Lighting. This system helps the grass grow well all year round by controlling light, temperature, water, and air.

Statue of former Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe (1930–2004) outside the South East corner of the Stadium

Black Cat House - originally used as a ticket office but later turned into the SAFC club store.

Other Buildings and Features

To the North East, there's the Black Cat House. This building used to be the ticket office and club offices. In 2024, it became the club's merchandise store.

There are large car parks, but on match days, you need a special permit to park there. Parts of the old Roker Park stadium, like its famous latticework, are used in the car park.

The stadium walls have a "Wall of Fame" where fans can have their names engraved. Inside, there are rooms for events and conferences. Quinn's Bar, named after former player and chairman Niall Quinn, displays club history.

In 2004, the Centre for Light opened inside the stadium. It's a learning center for children. In 2015, Sunderland became the first football club to open a sensory room. This special sound-proofed room helps people with Autism spectrum enjoy matches. It was named the Nathan Shippey Sensory Room and has been a big success, inspiring other clubs.

Changing the Seats

East Stand of the stadium on the left

When the stadium first opened, most seats were red. Over time, the sun bleached some of them, making them look pink. This became a joke for rival fans.

In 2018, when Stewart Donald bought the club, he heard many fans complain about the pink seats. He bought 31,500 new seats and asked fans to volunteer to help change them. Hundreds of fans, and even some club officials and players, helped replace the seats. The corners of the stadium now have white seats, while the sides and ends are red.

Fan Zone

In July 2015, Sunderland City Council approved a Fan Zone for the stadium. This is a special area for fans to gather before and after games. It's like similar zones at other big clubs.

The Fan Zone is in the car park outside the East Stand. It has live music, activities for children (like a small football pitch), food, and drinks. Club legends sometimes give interviews there. It opens a few hours before kick-off.

The Fan Zone was closed for a while due to the team's performance and money issues. But in 2018, new owner Stewart Donald brought it back. It is now open to everyone, not just those with match tickets.

Stadium Village

The area around the Stadium of Light is called the 'Stadium Village'. In 2007, the city council planned to develop this 30-hectare site. The idea was to build new shops, homes, and entertainment places, focusing on health and well-being.

New Facilities

Some new buildings have already been completed:

• The Sunderland Aquatic Centre, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, opened in 2008.
• A new Hilton Garden Inn hotel opened in 2016.
• The Beacon of Light, a sports and education center, opened in 2018 next to the Aquatic Centre.

Future Plans

The council has plans for more exciting facilities in the future. These could include a Velodrome (for cycling), an Ice rink, a Conference centre, and a Climbing wall.

A new tree-lined road called Stadium Way is also planned. It would connect the St Peter's Metro station to a new plaza at the stadium. This plaza would have an even better Fan Zone.

Exterior view of Stadium above the River Wear

International Football Matches

The Stadium of Light has hosted several international football games. It was used as a temporary home for the England national football team when Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt.

Men's England Games

• In 1999, England played Belgium in a friendly match and won 2-1.
• On April 2, 2003, England played Turkey in a Euro 2004 qualifying match and won 2-0.
• On May 27, 2016, England played Australia in a friendly, winning 2-1.

Youth and Women's Games

The stadium has also hosted matches for England's Under-20 and Under-21 teams. On November 27, 2021, it hosted its first women's international match. The England women's team played Austria in a World Cup qualifier and won 1-0.

International matches played at the Stadium of Light

Date	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Competition	Attendance	Ref.
10 October 1999	England	2–1	Belgium	Friendly	40,897
16 July 2000	England	1–2	Brazil	Nationwide Under 16 International Tournament	21,061
27 November 2002	England	3–5	Italy	U20 Four Nations Tournament	6,544
2 April 2003	England	2–0	Turkey	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying	47,667
10 June 2003	England	2–0	Slovakia	2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	11,223
27 May 2016	England	2–1	Australia	Friendly	46,595
27 November 2021	England	1–0	Austria	2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification	9,159
22 September 2023	England	2–1	Scotland	2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League	41,947

Other Events at the Stadium

Football Finals

The Stadium of Light has hosted the final of the Durham Challenge Cup three times. It also hosts finals for youth football, like the U14 Premier League Cup Final.

Rugby World Cup

The stadium was chosen as one of eight places to host the women's 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. It hosted the opening game of the tournament on August 22, 2025.

Rugby union matches played at the Stadium of Light

Date	Country	Score	Country	Use	Attendance	Ref
22 August 2025	England	69–7	United States	2025 Women's Rugby World Cup pool stage	42,723

Concerts and Music Events

Ed Sheeran Mathematics tour, Stadium of Light, Sunderland in 2022

Many famous musicians have performed at the Stadium of Light. These include Take That, Oasis, P!nk, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Elton John. The stadium can hold up to 60,000 people for concerts.

University Graduations

The Stadium of Light also hosts the yearly graduation ceremonies for students from the University of Sunderland. In 2007, it won an award for being a creative place to hold these events.

Stadium Records

Highest Attendances

The most people to watch a football game at the Stadium of Light was 48,353. This happened on April 13, 2002, when Sunderland played Liverpool.

For concerts, the record attendance is 60,000. This was for an Ed Sheeran concert on June 3, 2022.

Lowest Attendances

The lowest number of fans for a league game was 22,167 against Wigan Athletic in 2003. For any competitive first-team game, the lowest was 3,498 against Oldham Athletic in 2021.

Big Wins and Losses

Sunderland's biggest win at the stadium was 7-0 against Oxford United in 1999.

Their biggest defeat was 5-0 in a friendly match against Celtic in 2017. In league games, they have lost 4-0 five times.

The highest scoring matches at the stadium had nine goals. These include a 6-3 win for Sunderland against Exeter City in 2015, and a 5-4 loss to Coventry City in 2019.

Getting to the Stadium

The Stadium of Light Tyne Wear Metro station

The Stadium of Light is easy to reach by public transport. Sunderland railway station connects to major cities like London.

The Metro system has two stations near the stadium: St. Peter's and Stadium of Light Metro station. Even though it's not called "Stadium of Light," St. Peter's station is actually closer to the stadium.

On match days, there's a special "park and ride" system. This lets fans park their cars away from the stadium and take a bus. There are also plans for a new footbridge to connect the stadium to the other side of the River Wear.

See also

In Spanish: Stadium of Light para niños