The Stadium of Light opened in 1997 on the former Wearmouth Colliery site and quickly became one of the largest club grounds in England. Its return to Premier League football gives Sunderland one of the biggest matchday workforces outside the traditional top-six venues.
What happens here
- Sunderland AFC Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup home matches.
- Sunderland Women and academy fixtures where scheduled.
- Major concerts and large-scale summer events.
- Conferences, banqueting and private hire.
Who runs hospitality and catering
Delaware North UK holds a long-term hospitality and foodservice partnership at the Stadium of Light, covering general admission and premium spaces for matchdays, concerts and events. The deal began ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
What’s it like to work here
The Stadium of Light is built for big crowds, with strong Metro access and a regional fanbase that travels in from across Wearside, County Durham and South Tyneside. Delaware North recruits across kiosks, bars, hospitality and event-day roles, so casual staff demand can be significant — especially for derby fixtures, cup ties and concerts.
The return of the Tyne-Wear derby also adds a handful of especially high-profile shifts to the calendar whenever Newcastle and Sunderland share a division.
Other operators
Concerts and large non-football events often use additional event-security, cleaning, traffic and staging contractors.
