Could the Stadium Of Light Host Games in 2018?
The Stadium of Light is home to the north east team Sunderland A.F.C. it first opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 49,000.
2018 Match Venue?
Today the stadium of light is amongst the biggest in the country, however by 2018, there will be many new stadiums that are bigger and have better facilities. the reason that the stadium of light should host games in 2018 is because of the great atmosphere created in the stadium and the north east should be home to world cup football as the fans are some of the most passionate and loud in the country and it is also easily the best sporting stadium in the north east as each seat in the stadium gives a good view of the pitch, unlike its local rival St James’ Park.
In 1995 Sunderland put forward a plan to build a Stadium on the former site of Wearmouth Colliery which had recently closed. The area, on the north bank of the River Wear in the Sheepfolds district of Sunderland, was only a few hundred yards from former ground Roker Park, and in the heart of the city. On November 13, 1995, Sunderland Chairman Bob Murray finally announced that plans had been approved for Sunderland to build a 34,000-seater stadium on the site. Ballast Wiltshier PLC was contracted to build the stadium at an initial cost of £15 million. In June 1996, as the planned capacity rose to 40,000, The capacity was revised again in 1997, and the stadium was completed on time, with a capacity of 42,000. The north stand was extended in 2000 to give a capacity of 49,000 which cost the club a further £7million.
The name ‘Stadium of Light’ was revealed with mixed reactions, the name came from a competition and was inspired from the translation of Benficas ground in Lisbon (Estádio da Luz). The name is also a reference to a miners lamp which recognizes that the stadium was built on a former colliery.
The Stadium is separated into the West Stand, North Stand, East Stand and South Stand. The West Stand includes a number of executive boxes and also houses the main entrance, the changing rooms and tunnel, hospitality and banqueting suites, media facilities, and the sports bar. The pitch is several meters below the level of the ground outside of the stadium. This means that the stadium is larger than it appears from outside. Away fans are usually seated the west side of 
the South Stand, beside the vocal heart of the Stadium Of Light - the South West Corner which is home to some of the loudest fans in the country, and has been known to out sing almost any away fans which come into the stadium. The North Stand has the ’slogan’ “Ha’way The Lads” on the seats of the stand - this is to inspire the Sunderland players and create the ‘home end’ effect. It is truly amazing when the North Stand and the South West Corner sing together, and sometimes the South Stand. It is very intimidating to any away fans.
Transportation is a major issue with the stadium as there are no large-scale parking facilities. The St Peter’s and Stadium of Light Metro stations were built to serve the stadium, when the Metro was extended into Sunderland in 2002. A park and ride system is available on match days to allow spectators to park away from the Stadium, and a number of new footbridge proposals have been put forward to link the stadium to the south bank of the river, though to date none has been approved.
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February 21st, 2008 at 9:40 am
If spread across the country, St James’ Park will be the only North East venue
March 28th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Don’t talk soft, that place is depressing and full of loosers!
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
At least we can spell losers! Better stadium than Sid James Park by a thousand miles!
April 7th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Why would Sunderland be overlooked Mike if Sunderland have the potential to expand the ground to 60000+. Unlike St James which has no such potential.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Because Newcastle is the “main” city in the north east if you like and is well linked to cities across the country, unlike Sunderland. Not just stadia but places as well
June 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Definate Possibility of hosting group games, due to high reputation, and has been previously used for Internationals - unlikely to be overlooked
June 29th, 2008 at 3:46 am
St. James’ is quirky and beautiful and is right in the middle of a far more exciting night life than anything in Sunderland. I dont like the SOL’s roof whereas I love St. James’ clear awning. And while Sunderlands stadium could build to a million capacity, it has no reason to go any higher than what they have now, especially once they get relegated once again. St. James’ will get up to around 60,000 plus eventually before 2018 and that will be plenty good enough. For a fringe city (any northeast city involved in an England host situation) will see a limited amount of games and would not need to be anything near 70 or 80 thousand anyways. Just look at the current Euros, St. James’ is as big as the venue for the final.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Why are you all so obsessed with us and looking to bring the facts down that are published by neutral sources such as this article, and we won’t be relegated again you stupid geordie fool. Our stadium is newer, louder, and much better quality than yours and you can’t take it. Will you ever learn? maybe when Keegan and Ashley run your club to the ground.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Why are Newcastle fans heads shoved so far up there own a*se, its clear Newcastle fans are extremely jellose of the stadium of light and the Sunderland fans, any one from the out side looking in can see this.
Stadium of light to host 2018 game!!
July 5th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
St James’ Park cannot be expanded on the small sides, because of the housing area behind, meaning that it is highly unlikely it will ever reach 60,000. Whereas the Stadium of Light can easily continue expanding, to a stage even where it could compare to the height of Nou Camp. Georides are being extremely dillusional and naive in believing there stadium is better than the Stadium of Light. They have to remember it will not be a club occasion, not Sunderland vs Newcastle, it’s the World Cup for christ sake where all of England will be supporting. Just look at this “I dont like the SOL’s roof whereas I love St. James’ clear awning.” how nit picky can you get, the Stadium of Light has a clear roof dipshit, and I’ve noticed how thats the only thing you like about the stadium, it’s an eyesore, massive on one side, minute on the other, some serious shit headed geordie must have been involved in designing this stadium.
Sunderland forever!
FTM! FTM!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Both clubs have a “small club mentality” and will never win trophies. I don’t know maybe it has something to do with the North East being such a depressing, God-forbidden place. Funny how both clubs were getting terrible crowds when they were in lower divisions but now fill their stadiums in the land of milk and honey, even though the North East has the self-proclaimed most passionate loyal supporters in the country. Hmmm!
August 24th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
the last bloke,, ‘the truth’ is a knobhead and clearly a tory southern twat
October 31st, 2008 at 9:19 pm
That’s a very small minded view on the north east, I was born and live in London but was bought up with only one team, im an SAFC supporter and have taken a lot of stick for it whilst growing up, season ticket holder, get to at least 10 away matches a season and I can honestly say the atmosphere is better than anywhere else in England, the 2 teams in north east may be under achievers but the atmosphere is another level, the fact that sunderland where regularly getting more than 35,000 in the championship shows that, both of the big teams in the north east have very little to show yet they are still able to fill the 4th and 5th biggest stadiums in the country. You can slate the area for it’s football achievements but not for it’s support and atmosphere it’s the best in the country and maybe the world.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Oh and if you think the north east is God-forbidden you should actually visit it, the people are the friendliest I have ever met with my London accent and the night life is amazing.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
With Wembley as a showcase (less support on an international than the 2 NE teams playing bottom PL clubs) Old Trafford (no atmosphere old trafford) and The Emirates (no atmosphere emirates) that makes Sid James’s and The Stadium Of Light the biggest stadiums in the country who actually know what atmosphere is, the fact that people consider the 20,000 at Portsmouth to be the next best atmosphere in the prem sums it up, For true love of the game the NE is the best place to be, due to the lack of football success the NE is ignored too much by the FA, 2 teams in 2 city’s who manage 80,000 between them on a normal premier league match day without having really achieved anything since the 70’s shows the passion in NE football as did the recent Wear-Tyne derby, the North East loves football, London and the North East can’t compare for blind passion.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Look at the appearance of the stadium for a start, the red welcoming seats, the atmosphere and the stunning facilities…
Compare this with the doom and gloom of Newcastle’s st. james’ park who’s stadium can not be extended by a tremendous amount and compared to the stadium of light, really it has no hope at all.
Of course Sunderland can be a host in 2018. The club has a winning mentality and is the heart of the north east by far.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Why sit and bitch about this same old subject???, Yeh we know sunderland has a good stadium with a possibility of expansion (But doubtful anytime in the near future) and newcastle has a stadium in the heart of a well recognised city nationwide and worldwide which sunderland perhaps dont, We should be working to together to sell the north easts passion for football not each individual cities!!! if places like fratton park and other lesser stadia win over ours then its going to be a sad day
June 26th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
If sunderland were to be a host stadium, then which airport would teams, fans etc… fly into? or which train station would the main link from other areas be? via NEWCASTLE i think!!! Enough said
June 27th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Think about this logically.
Are football fans from around the world seriously going to go to Sunderland? I’m not so sure it’s going to send out a very good image, is it? Do you think fans traveling by train are going to go up to central station, a stones throw from St James Park, and then pile on the metro to the dark place? Sunderland has no hotels, no shops, no attractions, no airport, no reason to go there! Face it mackems. No international football will be played in Sunderland in 2018.
See you at St James Park.