<\/p>\n

Key facts<\/h3>\n

Club: Sunderland AFC | Opening: 1997 | Capacity: 49,000 seats<\/p>\n

History and description<\/h3>\n

The Stadium of Light was built in the mid 1990s as a replacement for Sunderland’s old Roker Park<\/a>, which lacked the possibilities for further expansion and modernisation.<\/p>\n

The Stadium of Light was built at a site a few hundred metres away from Roker Park and initially had a capacity of 42,000 seats.<\/p>\n

The stadium officially opened on the 31st of July with a friendly match between Sunderland and Ajax (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Stadium of Light was further expanded in 2002 to a capacity of 49,000 seats. The stadium’s design allows for further expansions to a maximum capacity of 66,000 seats, though no plans for such expansion exist at the moment.<\/p>\n

How to get to the Stadium of Light<\/h3>\n

The Stadium of Light stands on the north bank of the River Wear. Sunderland\u2019s city centre, located on the south bank, is just a 15-minute walk away, as is Sunderland\u2019s main railway<\/a> station.<\/p>\n

One can also arrive at the stadium by metro<\/a>. Both the metro stations St. Peter\u2019s and Stadium of Light are within short walking distance of the ground. After the match northbound (Newcastle) going supporters are required to board at Stadium of Light station, whereas southbound supporters need to board at St. Peters.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, buses 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 15 and 16 all stop within walking distance of the stadium.<\/p>\n

Address: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU<\/p>\n