Status Quo opened the new arena and Kevin Ball captained the Black Cats in front of 41,600 people – the game ended 0-0, with a little known striker named Kevin Phillips making his debut.
Here, we take a look into the archive at some of the best photos from the day – can you spot yourself?
5. Face paint at the ready!
There was plenty of young fans in attendance in 1997. Photo: Sunderland Echo
6. New turnstiles
Sunderland fans head through the turnstiles at the Stadium of Light for the first time. Photo: Sunderland Echo
7. School children get involved in the displays
Where you one of the school children invited out onto the Stadium of Light pitch that day? Photo: Sunderland Echo
8. Cloggs the Clown
Donna Giles, at the time 10-years-old, and Cloggs the Clown. Photo: Sunderland Echo