We’ll see further enhancements to the Stadium of Light when fans take their seats for the home match against Bournemouth on November 29.
Speculation online during the international break suggests we’ll
see updated screens at either end of the ground, with images from the U21 game against Athletic Club showing the old North Stand screen completely removed.
Further images from recent days have shown new lettering being installed on the roof of the East Stand, spelling out Sunderland Association Football Club. It looks to be the same font as the new Jimmy Montgomery stand opposite, and it looks rather smart.
The latest developments at the SoL follow a well-publicised eight-figure investment programme which took place during the summer following our promotion to the Premier League.
And while they may be small-fry compared to some of the bright new facilities, hospitality outlets and other upgrades which came the previous year, including a new playing surface, PA and lighting systems, they are not insignificant.
The club’s attention to detail under the current regime is a notable feature, and it’s this focus on the smaller factors which really contribute to the bigger picture.
I think the old screens were installed ahead of the 2012/13 season, and while they have served us well, the North Stand screen has appeared pixilated for some time, while it’s fair to say that technology has moved on over the past 13 years – especially with VAR playing such a big role in the modern game.
I wonder if there’s scope for the new screens to be larger? Interestingly, it looks as though the club logos on either side of the North Stand screen have also been removed, which could increase the width.
The old logo mounts date back to when the stadium was first built and originally housed Metro FM adverts. These were designed with the original 1997 scoreboard dimensions in mind, and it would make sense for them now to make way for bigger, improved screens.
Some people will wonder what the fuss is about. We’re flying high in the league and are still unbeaten at home, so why focus on screens and signage? But most of us have a sense of pride in our beloved home ground. For years it was brutally neglected, especially during the years when Ellis Short tightened the purse strings.
After our relegation to League One in 2018, the stadium was a very visible image of the club’s perilous state, with faded pink seats, dated and dilapidated facilities making the place look nothing like the one Sir Bob Murray originally created.
The pink seats were replaced and it could be argued that some of them are starting to fade again. It’s not an immediate priority (I don’t think), but this won’t have gone unnoticed in the boardroom.
There’s no doubt that the Stadium of Light has been brought back up to date. It’s no longer a relic of 1990s football arena visionaries and is finally fulfilling its potential, once again, as a first class venue for Premier League football, with bright new concourses and hospitality offerings such as Banks on Wear, 76 Yards and The Founders, complementing work carried out in the players’ dressing room and tunnel, as well as new media and player interview facilities.
It could be argued that while relatively small, the latest additions during this international break could be the icing on the cake – but I’m convinced that there will be much more to come.
On a final note, the new East Stand lettering would suggest that there are no current plans, for that stand at least, to be named after a legendary club figure. It’s probably the right decision, for now anyway, as Jimmy Montgomery enjoys that distinction and we don’t rush into another stand-naming debate.
