With all 23 teams Sunderland will face in the EFL Championship now decided, we thought we’d take a look at the stadiums SAFC will visit next season...
ST ANDREW’S- BIRMINGHAM CITY
With a capacity of 29,409 (currently restricted to 19,000 due to ongoing repair work), St Andrew’s will be a middle-sized stadium comparatively to the rest of the division, coming in at 12th biggest - although its working capacity is lower ranked. With the shortest route to this ground from the SoL coming in at 196 miles, it certainly won’t be the longest away trip of the season but is still a sizable journey. Sunderland’s last trip there was a 2-1 win in November 2022. An allocation of 2,227 was given last time out, a pretty good amount for a stadium of just 19,000 available seats.
EWOOD PARK- BLACKBURN ROVERS
Ewood Park is one of the larger grounds in the league, 9th ranked overall, with a capacity of 31,367. A journey that isn’t that far (at least compared to other stadiums we will travel to) with the shortest journey coming in at 124 miles from the SoL. We were given 4,341 tickets last time round, a 2-0 defeat in October 2022, although Blackburn could technically give around 8,000 tickets if we sold out our initial allocation.
ASHTON GATE STADIUM- BRISTOL CITY
Ashton Gate went through massive renovations that were completed ahead of the 16/17 season, massively modernising the ground. With a capacity of 27,000 (ranked 14th) and a previous away allocation of 3,338 this would be a brilliant away day if it wasn’t for the distance. The shortest journey from the SoL clocks in at a whopping 294 miles and it somehow isn’t the longest trip of the season, Sky Sports will definitely be moving this to a 12:30 kick off then! Our last game here was a 3-2 win in August 2022.
CARDIFF CITY STADIUM- CARDIFF CITY
The de-facto national stadium of Wales, this stadium has seen many famous moments in Welsh football and therefore is quite a big ground. A capacity of 33,280 (ranked 5th) does make the ticket allocation of 2,700 slightly disappointing (although we didn’t sell out last time around). Another long trip of 310 miles from the SoL, coupled with the fact the retail park around the stadium seems a bit too small for what is needed, makes this away day a bit of an unpleasant one. Last time out we won 1-0 in April 2023.
COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY ARENA- COVENTRY CITY
A hostile reception can be expected for Sunderland fans making this trip due to the animosity shared between the two sides. A capacity of 32,609 makes this another large stadium for the second tier (coming in at 6th biggest), and a good allocation of 3,000 was granted to us last time around for the 2-1 defeat in February 2023. A trip of exactly 200 miles from the SoL makes this a long one, but not a marathon of a journey. Be prepared for an exaggerated police presence if you decide to make this trip.
JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM- HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
This stadium has weird surroundings, with forest on one side (providing a nice backdrop) and industrial estates on the other. A bit of a marmite ground, with some loving the arched style of the stands and others hating it, the John Smith’s/Kirklees offers up a capacity of 24,121 (ranked 17th). An allocation of 2,328 was given last time round for a 2-0 win in November 2022. A journey of 105 miles makes this quite short and a nice break from the longer, more brutal trips we will face.
MKM STADIUM- HULL CITY
Parking around this ground is awful - if you’re travelling by car you can’t park anywhere near the ground so be prepared to walk a fair distance. An allocation of 2,020 feels slightly too low for a stadium of 25,586 (ranked 16th). Our last trip was a 1-1 draw in December 2022. With a decent 135 miles of travelling needed to reach this stadium and being located right in the city centre (probably explaining the lack of parking), this away day is very mixed but overall enjoyable.
PORTMAN ROAD- IPSWICH TOWN
Ipswich are back in the second tier, which means another long trip for Sunderland’s away support of 278 miles. I was unable to find any information on what our away allocation was the last time we played here, which was a 1-1 draw in December 2021, but apparently it is usually around 1,900. This is very disappointing for a ground that holds 29,673, ranked 11th. I would predict this to be a good away trip, despite the distance, with a game against a newly promoted side surely to be exciting.
ELLAND ROAD- LEEDS UNITED
A famous stadium belonging to a team large sections of our support don’t particularly like, something a lot of other fans in England would agree with, it has been a short while since we last played there. A 1-1 draw in April 2018, in a dire season, perhaps wasn’t the best way to experience what this stadium has to offer. Once again I was unable to find how many tickets we were given on that day, but there is a typical allocation of 3,000 (this may be reduced in the Championship: due to the size of the stadium, Leeds had to give 3,000 tickets for Premier League games). The 2nd biggest stadium in the Championship, 37,608, certainly does a club of Leeds’ stature justice. This is also a short away trip, just 96.2 miles from the SoL.
KING POWER STADIUM- LEICESTER CITY
Few people predicted them to come down, but here they are. Our last trip to Leicester came in April 2017 (a 2-0 defeat), with a typical allocation of 3,000 (although this may be reduced). 32,262 seats make up the King Power (ranked 8th), located 182 miles from the SoL. The King Power’s highest ever attendance was also against the Lads, a 4-2 defeat in August 2015, in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge!
RIVERSIDE STADIUM- MIDDLESBROUGH
Our best friends from down the road are still in the Championship. As an away game this is a pretty good one aside from the fact they normally beat us. An allocation of 2,575 was given to us for our latest trip (a 1-0 defeat in September 2022). This is quite generous for a game considered by Middlesbrough to be a derby. As well as this it is obviously very close with just 31.3 miles separating the two stadiums down the A19. The ground has a capacity of 34,742, making it one of the biggest in the Championship (ranked 4th).
THE DEN- MILLWALL
An infamous stadium because of Millwall’s hooligan element of years gone by, the hostility and heightened police presence still remains. Away coaches get penned into a small parking area and a number of Millwall fans hug the police cordon to shout abuse, but you’re unlikely to get hurt. It’s one of the smaller grounds in the Championship (ranked 21st) with 20,146 seats. They do give a rather generous allocation though, with 2,678 tickets given for our last trip (a 1-1 draw in February 2023). It can be found 284 miles from the SoL.
CARROW ROAD- NORWICH CITY
A rather scenic route through the Norfolk Broads is required to reach this ground and by that I mean there’s no motorways, so you’ll find yourself driving through the middle of nowhere. A mid-sized football ground for this level, with a capacity of 27,359, making it come in ranked 13th overall. The allocation is quite poor, just 2,022 last time around for our 1-0 win in March 2023. Coach parking is poor as the area is very small so it takes ages to get out. Overall there are better away days to be had next season.
HOME PARK- PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Games between us and Plymouth are famous for being the longest away trip in the EFL with an immense 403 miles between the two clubs. It is a badge of honour for anyone who has made this trip to say they’ve done it, so for that alone it’s probably worth making the trip down to Devon. A small stadium of 17,900, the second smallest in the division, which is understandable given the fact Plymouth have spent many years down in the 3rd and 4th tiers. The away allocation is definitely too low though - we got just 1,200 last time around and it was a 0-0 boring draw in April 2022.
DEEPDALE- PRESTON NORTH END
A decent stadium for a very historical football club, Deepdale offers up 23,404 seats (ranked 18th) but more importantly a very large allocation of 5,700 which is very big relative to the stadium size. Our last trip was of course the 3-0 win that saw us clinch a playoff spot on the final day of the season in May 2023. Located 128 miles from the SoL, this surely has to be a contender for one of the best away trips you can make all season - especially if the football is as dramatic as it was last season.
LOFTUS ROAD- QUEENS PARK RANGERS
The London club has a modest 18,439 seater stadium, making it the third smallest in the league. The tickets they give for away followings are very good considering the small stadium they have, 2,900 for our last game here. Our last journey to play QPR resulted in an emphatic 3-0 win in February 2023. Loftus Road is found 269 miles from the SoL.
NEW YORK STADIUM- ROTHERHAM UNITED
A ground often hated by away fans, due to its bowl appearance and steep stands, it now also takes the perhaps unwanted crown of smallest stadium in the Championship with just 12,021 seats in total. There is a good amount of tickets offered up to away fans however, with 2,203 last time around. Our last journey here resulted in a forgetful 2-1 loss in February 2023. Located a short 119 miles from the SoL, it is a welcome breather for our away fans. You’re not from New York City, you’re from Rotherham…
HILLSBOROUGH STADIUM- SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Probably the most important stadium in English football, due to its tragic role in the reason why all-seater stadiums are now the norm, Hillsborough now offers a much reduced capacity of 34,854. This makes it the 3rd largest in the league. Sunderland last visited here for a less than notable 2-0 loss in the League Cup in August 2022. Away visitors can expect a typical allocation of 3,700 (this may be reduced due to safety concerns that originated from this season's FA Cup). Located just 121 miles from the SoL via the shortest route, it certainly isn’t very far and it’s a great looking, traditional football stadium that is definitely recommended to visit.
ST MARY’S- SOUTHAMPTON
It’s been a number of years since we last travelled to the south coast to play Southampton, last time out it was a 1-0 defeat in the League Cup in October 2016. St Mary’s was also the site of our infamous 8-0 loss in October 2014. A large stadium (ranked 7th) of 32,384, with a typical away allocation of 3,000 (although this may of course be reduced due to their relegation). St Mary’s is some distance from the SoL, 317 miles, so it will be some effort by our supporters to attend - but I’m sure, like always, that we will travel in large numbers.
BET365 STADIUM- STOKE CITY
A horrible name for a stadium, surely betting sponsorships shouldn’t be allowed for stadiums. We will of course get to travel to meet our old mate Alex Neil (assuming he still has a job). Our last trip was a 1-0 win in August 2022, for which we were given 2,629 tickets. This was Neil’s last game in charge of SAFC. Perhaps slightly small for yet another stadium of 30,000+, (30,089 to be exact, ranking 10th). This ground is a rather boring one, with no notable characteristics, and isn’t too long of a trip but still not that close at 187 miles.
SWANSEA.COM STADIUM- SWANSEA CITY
A massive downgrade in terms of naming, it used to be called the Liberty Stadium which is a much better name and more unique and less corporate-sounding. A small stadium of 21,088 (ranking 20th), with our last away trip involving a 2-1 defeat in October 2022 and 1,971 tickets in total. Even though it may not be the longest trip of the season, 322 miles from the SoL it is an exhausting one and feels like it goes on forever.
VICARAGE ROAD- WATFORD
This stadium offers some character, a bit of which is the Elton John Stand. It isn’t very big, with 22,200 seats, slotting it in at the 19th spot for largest stadium in the division. Its allocation could probably be slightly bigger, being 1,996 for our last game. Jewison Bennette scored a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw in our latest meeting at Vicarage Road in September 2022. Vicarage Road is located 261 miles away from the SoL.
THE HAWTHORNS- WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Holding a total of 26,850 spectators, making it rather middle-sized (ranked 15th), the Hawthorns is the last stadium on this list. It does have a main road on one end of the ground which is a bit of a pain to cross and is a historical football stadium having been built in 1900. Our allocation for the 2-1 win here on our spectacular journey into the Championship play-offs in April 2023 was 2,000, which should definitely be bigger. The Hawthorns is 204 miles via the shortest journey from the SoL.
