Sunderland AFC's average attendance at the Stadium of Light now compared to 10 years ago | OneFootball

We take a look at how attendances have changed at the Stadium of Light over the last decade

The 2024/25 season has started excellently for Sunderland, and while it's early days, some supporters will already be dreaming of a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

The Black Cats top the Championship, and as you'd expect, the Stadium of Light is a good place to be.

It's fair to say that Sunderland supporters have endured something of an emotional rollercoaster since relegation from the top-flight in 2017, with the club dropping to League One after just one season in the Championship in 2018, and it would take them a further four years to return to the second tier.

However, their first season back in the Championship proved a successful one, making the play-offs against all the odds, before suffering a dismal 2023/24 campaign when they finished 16th.

With the club flying high in the Championship currently, we've taken a look at the club's attendances this season and how they compare to ten years ago during the 2014/15 season.

Sunderland's 2024/25 average attendance compared to 10 years ago

According to Transfermarkt, Sunderland's average attendance this season is a huge 40,738, a quite remarkable number for a club in the second tier.

Unsurprisingly, their excellent start to the season has seen crowds rise from an average of 36,207 last season, but their average attendance this season isn't quite as big as it was a decade ago.

Sunderland were in their eighth consecutive Premier League season a decade ago during the 2014/15 campaign, and their average attendance that season was 43,171.

Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that Sunderland were averaging higher crowds a decade ago when they were in the Premier League, but they're not a million miles away from matching that, and if they continue their impressive form, perhaps they could even overtake it later this season.

The Stadium of Light is the biggest ground in the division with a capacity of around 49,000, and you sense that Sunderland will come close to filling that towards the business end of the season if they're in the mix for promotion.

Sunderland are currently averaging 2,433 less than they were a decade ago, but given the fact they're in a lower league and have seen their average attendance increase in recent seasons, it's certainly not too negative.

Sunderland's support is incredible for a Championship club

Sunderland currently have the highest average attendance in the Championship, although they are closely followed by Leeds United who average 36,274 this season.

However, for a second tier club to break the 40,000 mark as an average attendance is hugely impressive and would be a very respectable figure both in the Premier League and other top-flight leagues around the world.

For context, Sunderland's average attendance this season would put them in the top half of Premier League attendances, and it's more than teams like Chelsea and Everton have averaged this season, according to Footy Web Pages.

Sunderland have a fiercely loyal and committed fan base, and Regis Le Bris and his players will be looking to repay that support this season by winning promotion to the Premier League.