Sunderland AFC – The Stadium of Light

Complete Away Day Travel Guide

🔴 ABOUT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT

The Stadium of Light is one of English football’s largest and most impressive stadiums, home to Sunderland AFC since 1997. With a capacity of 49,000, this is the eighth-largest stadium in England and one of the Championship’s finest venues. Built on the site of the former Wearmouth Colliery (coal mine), the stadium’s name references both the area’s mining heritage and the Portuguese Estádio da Luz (Benfica’s stadium).

The modern, purpose-built ground is located on the banks of the River Wear and offers excellent facilities throughout. The stadium has hosted England internationals, the UEFA Cup Final in 2004, and countless memorable matches. When Sunderland are in form, and the crowd is singing, the atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light is genuinely electric – this is a proper football stadium with passionate supporters.

Sunderland AFC – The Black Cats or The Mackems – are one of England’s oldest and most historic clubs, founded in 1879 as “Sunderland and District Teachers AFC”. The club has won six English top-flight championships (last in 1935-36), two FA Cups (1937, 1973), and was famously known as the “Team of All the Talents” in the Edwardian era. Sunderland were one of the strongest clubs in England’s early decades, innovating the passing game and dominating the old First Division.

The red-and-white striped shirts have been worn since 1887, and the “Black Cats” nickname dates to a black cat mascot that brought luck in the early 1900s. Sunderland supporters are among England’s most passionate and loyal – they’ve stuck by their club through difficult times, including relegations to the Championship and League One, with attendances remaining remarkably high. The Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United is one of English football’s fiercest rivalries, dating back to 1883, with genuine intensity and passion from both sets of supporters.

📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS

🚗 GETTING TO THE STADIUM OF LIGHT

The Stadium of Light is located on the banks of the River Wear, approximately 1 mile west of Sunderland city centre. Sunderland Station has excellent rail connections from across the North East and beyond. The ground is accessible by Metro (Tyne & Wear Metro), bus, taxi, or walking from the city centre and the station.

🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP

Stadium of Light Address: Millennium Way, Sunderland, SR5 1SU

🚂 BY TRAIN – The Recommended Choice

Why Trains Work: Sunderland Station is well connected to services from Newcastle, Durham, and Middlesbrough, with connections to the wider UK rail network. From the station, the Stadium of Light is approximately 1.5 miles – either a 20-25 minute walk (pleasant route along the river), the Tyne & Wear Metro (St Peter’s stop), or a 5-10 minute taxi journey. The Metro connection makes this genuinely straightforward.

Journey Times to Sunderland Station:

Getting from Sunderland Station to the Stadium of Light

💡 Top Tip: Arrive at Sunderland Station 2-3 hours before kick-off. Explore the city centre, grab lunch and drinks in Sunderland’s pubs (The Dun Cow, The King’s Arms), then take the Metro to St Peter’s around 90 minutes before kick-off. The Metro is brilliant – frequent, cheap, and drops you close to the ground!

🔗 Train Times & Tickets: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com

🔗 Tyne & Wear Metro: nexus.org.uk

🔗 Sunderland AFC Official Site: safc.com

🚗 BY CAR – Good Parking Options

⚠️ Parking Information: The Stadium of Light has good parking facilities compared to many grounds, with several car parks around the stadium. However, these fill up quickly, and exit traffic can be slow afterwards. The Metro from Sunderland Station is genuinely easier unless you’re staying locally.

If You Drive:

• Directions: From A19, exit onto A1231 Wessington Way towards Sunderland, follow signs to Stadium of Light
• Official Stadium Car Parks: Several car parks around the ground – Blue, Red, White car parks (£8-£10, book in advance through the club)
• Aquatic Centre Car Park: Short walk to stadium, £5-£8 matchday parking
• Riverside Car Parks: Along the River Wear near the stadium, £6-£10
• Sunderland Enterprise Park: Business park areas offer matchday parking £5-£8 – 10-15 minute walk to the ground
• Park & Ride: Some matchdays have park & ride schemes – check the club website

🚨 Our Advice: If driving, arrive 2+ hours early to secure parking and explore Sunderland before the match. Post-match exit can take 30-45 minutes. Alternatively, park in Newcastle (if coming from the north) and take the 20-minute train to Sunderland to avoid matchday parking hassles.

🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR THE STADIUM OF LIGHT

⚠️ IMPORTANT ADVICE: Pubs immediately around Stadium of Light are generally Sunderland strongholds and may not welcome away colours, especially for high-profile fixtures or the Newcastle derby. The safest approach is to drink in Sunderland city centre before the match (10-15 minutes from the stadium), where there are numerous pubs and more tolerance for away fans in small groups.

🍺 City Centre Pubs (Safer for Away Fans)

🍺 Near the Stadium (Exercise Caution)

⚠️ Our Advice: Stick to Sunderland city centre pubs, especially Wetherspoons, which generally accept mixed supporters. Don’t wear away colours in pubs immediately around the stadium. For the Newcastle derby, the city centre is strongly recommended!

🍔 Food Options: Sunderland city centre has decent food options – Holmeside has various restaurants, there are Indian restaurants on nearby streets, and standard chains in the Bridges shopping centre. Near the stadium, options are limited to fast-food outlets, and the stadium concourses offer pies, burgers, and other hot food.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN SUNDERLAND

Sunderland offers reasonable accommodation options across a range of price points. Stay in the city centre for convenience and safety, or at the coast (Roker/Seaburn) for seaside atmosphere. Newcastle (20 mins by train) offers more options if Sunderland hotels are full. Book well in advance for big fixtures, especially derby matches.

💷 Budget Options (£40-£70 per night)

💷💷 Mid-Range Options (£70-£120 per night)

💷💷💷 Alternative: Stay in Newcastle (20 mins by train)

🎭 THINGS TO DO IN SUNDERLAND

Sunderland is an honest working-class city with fascinating industrial heritage, a beautiful coastline, and a passionate football culture. While it doesn’t have Newcastle’s nightlife, there’s genuine character here and some excellent attractions worth exploring.

🎭 THE SUNDERLAND EXPERIENCE

⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

Visiting the Stadium of Light is a chance to experience one of English football’s most impressive modern stadiums and one of the Championship’s most passionate atmospheres. With a capacity of 49,000 (the eighth-largest in England), this purpose-built venue opened in 1997 on the site of the former Wearmouth Colliery, named to honour both the area’s mining heritage and Portuguese inspiration.

Sunderland AFC is one of England’s oldest and most historic clubs – six English top-flight championships, two FA Cups, including the famous 1973 giant-killing of Leeds United, and the “Team of All the Talents” that dominated the Edwardian era. But what makes Sunderland truly special is their supporters – Mackem fans maintained 30,000+ attendances through League One, proving their loyalty isn’t dependent on success.

When the Stadium of Light is full and the crowd is singing, this is one of English football’s great atmospheres.

Sunderland itself is an honest working-class city with genuine character. The industrial heritage from the shipbuilding and coal-mining days is fascinating – the Wear Riverside tells the story of one of the world’s greatest shipbuilding centres. Roker and Seaburn beaches are lovely, with sandy shores, a Victorian pier, and pleasant coastal walks. The National Glass Centre showcases the city’s glass-making heritage. And whilst Sunderland doesn’t have Newcastle’s nightlife or cultural scene, there’s authenticity here and friendly locals. The city’s worn well, and there’s something appealing about its unpretentious, straightforward character.

The logistics work well – Sunderland Station has good connections from Newcastle (15-20 mins), Durham (12 mins), and Middlesbrough (35-40 mins). From the station, take the Tyne & Wear Metro to St Peter’s (6 minutes, £2.00, every 12 minutes) for a 5-minute walk to the stadium.

Alternatively, it’s a pleasant 20-25 minute walk along the river. Our advice? Arrive early, have drinks in Sunderland city centre pubs (Wetherspoons are safest for away fans), explore the riverside or pop to the seaside at Roker, then take the Metro to the ground. Don’t wear away colours in pubs around the stadium. If staying over, consider Newcastle (20 mins away) for better nightlife and hotel options. Stadium of Light offers brilliant facilities, a passionate atmosphere, and a proper football away day!

Take the train to Sunderland, hop on the Metro to St Peter’s, experience the Stadium of Light’s atmosphere, and discover why Mackem fans are among English football’s most loyal!

🔴⚪ Ha’way the Lads! 🔴⚪

📞 USEFUL CONTACTS

💬 SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Did this guide help you? Have you been to the Stadium of Light? Share your away day stories and tips!

Find us on social media: #SAFC #Sunderland #StadiumOfLight #AwayDays #ChampionshipFootball #TheBlackCats #HawayTheLads #FootballNonsense

📍 Part of the Football Nonsense Championship Away Days Collection

For more away day guides, visit footballnonsense.co.uk