Premier League football club Sunderland is about to embark on a significant revamp programme for its Stadium of Light home ground.

The first stage of the project will involve the replacement of the stadium’s seats, which will commence soon. The installation will be carried out over a number of phases, starting with the east stand.

In addition, the stadium’s hospitality facilities will undergo a facelift. The Montgomery Suite – named after the club’s FA Cup-winning goalkeeper – will be redeveloped with a “contemporary new look”.

The Sunderland squad will also come out on the first day of the season from a new-look tunnel, with life-sized graphics of current players.

Sunderland’s 49,000-capacity stadium opened in 1997, and chief executive Martin Bain said that some areas needed an upgrade after 20 years.

“It is a magnificent home for our football club and we want to ensure that it is a stadium our fans can continue to be proud of,” he added. “The replacing of seats will be the most visual aspect of the work we are undertaking and it something I am sure Sunderland fans will welcome.”