It's certainly been the least enjoyable promotion of my lifetime (the first I can really remember being 2005/06). Expectation is a big part of it, and the fact that we've had another couple of promotions very recently so the novelty has worn off. There are a few other factors though, for instance the performances, style of play and entertainment factor have been quite poor on the whole, so that buzz hasn't been created amongst the fans or the media.
We were also spoilt a bit by the Wilder era, climbing up the leagues playing an exciting and unique brand of football. While the whole club seemed to be united by a relatable bunch of players led by a Blade Captain, Blade Manager and even a Blade Chairman. That feel good factor will always be hard to replicate.
The club being wrapped up in financial/ownership difficulties, and creating other problems such as ticketing and the Kop restrictions won't have helped either. It all gives the feel of a bit of a disaster being around the corner, even after promotion.
On top of that from a personal point of view, although I won't be alone here, I'm now a few years older and football hasn't quite felt the same since the pandemic.
Having said all that, it's still a great feeling to be back in the Premier League, and the buzz should be back next year. Hopefully we achieve something that takes us to the next level and then the excitement can go up a notch.
