SUNDERLAND’S brand new team was not the only thing on display on Saturday.
The newly-promoted Black Cats made a dream return to the Premier League by thrashing West Ham 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.
While over £120m-plus has been spent on new recruits for boss Regis Le Bris, the North East club’s owners have also splashed out elsewhere.
And supporters, who were piling into the ground from midday in readiness for their top-flight comeback, will have noticed a number of new changes around their 48,707-capacity home.
Sunderland spent £10m revamping their ground – including the signage for the newly-named Jimmy Montgomery Stand.
The 81-year-old, the goalkeeping hero of the club’s famous 1973 FA Cup Final triumph, was there in person as the current crop of Black Cats produced their own memorable display for the stand’s first competitive outing.
Though the money has not just been spent on fancy signage.
Improvements have been made inside the concourses, with the club stating they’ve swapped the “mish-mashed branding for a proper Sun’lun feel” instead.
Grub wise, they have introduced a brand new food offering on the stadium’s menu as well as overhauling their beer cooling pouring system and you can have a pint within seconds due to the introduction of Bars.
As well as the seven new boys included in Le Bris’ starting XI, the 76 yards lounge also debuted, providing glorious views of the ground where you can order food from a menu designed by British chef Tommy Banks – who is also heading up the Banks on the Wear dining facility at the stadium.
However, it’s back in the concourse that you get a true sense of the club’s rich history.
Painted images of legendary figures such as Montgomery, Niall Quinn, Kevin Phillips and the like are on the red and white walls.
And even the players themselves had something new to view with a new Black Cats themed tunnel.
Sunderland have forked out to upgrade the Louise Wanless Media Centre in order to meet the increased demands of the Premier League.
The press now has TWO rooms in which to work in. The old media room has undergone a grand transformation with a number of desks and TV screens installed as well as a food counter.
And a separate press conference room has now been built next door for all of the post-match reaction.
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