Bands Take That and Oasis have helped a North-East football stadium to be nominated for a business tourism award.
Sunderland’s Stadium of Light has been shortlisted in the North-East England Tourism Awards for the Business Tourism of the Year Award.
It comes after the stadium hosted about 250,000 visitors in only eight weeks.
In addition to a number of corporate events and private functions this summer, the stadium hosted the first two nights of Take That’s The Circus tour, as well as an Oasis concert.
It has held graduation ceremonies accommodating more than 12,000 university guests and graduates during the summer and hosted a funfair in June and last month.
Gary Hutchinson, group catering and events manager at Sunderland AFC, said: “The Stadium of Light has proven to be an immensely versatile and accessible venue and a highly regarded business tourism destination.
This award is fantastic recognition for what is a fantastic setting.”
The Business Tourism of the Year Award will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead in October.