Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium also known as Lansdowne Road (Irish: Bóthar Lansdún, IPA: [ˈbˠoːhəɾˠ ˈl̪ˠan̪ˠsˠd̪ˠuːnˠ]) or Dublin Arena (during UEFA competitions) is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 51,711 spectators (all seated). It is built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road Stadium, which was demolished in 2007, and replaced it as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the Republic of Ireland football team. The decision to redevelop the stadium came after plans for both Stadium Ireland and Eircom Park fell through. Aviva Group Ireland signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights in 2009, and subsequently extended the arrangement until 2025.
UEFA | |
Aviva Stadium Location within Dublin | |
| Former names | • Lansdowne Road • Dublin Arena |
|---|---|
| Location | 62 Lansdowne Road Dublin 4 D04 K5F9 Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′7″N 6°13′42″W |
| Public transit | Lansdowne Road |
| Owner | • Irish Rugby Football Union • Football Association of Ireland |
| Operator | New Stadium Ltd |
| Capacity | • 51,711 (rugby union, association football) • 49,000 (American football) • 65,000 (concerts) |
| Field size | 106 m × 68 m (348 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Perennial Ryegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 2007 |
| Built | 2007–2010 |
| Opened | 14 May 2010 |
| Construction cost | €410 million (including €191 million of government funding, 2010) |
| Architect | • Populous (formerly HOK Sport) • Scott Tallon Walker |
| Builder | Sisk Group |
| Structural engineer | Buro Happold |
| Services engineer | ME Engineers |
| Tenants | |
| Ireland national rugby union team (2010–present) Republic of Ireland national football team (2010–present) Leinster Rugby (2010–present) Lansdowne R.F.C. (2010–present) | |
| Website | |
| www | |
The stadium, located beside Lansdowne Road railway station, officially opened on 14 May 2010. The stadium is Ireland's first, and only, UEFA Category 4 Stadium and in 2011, it hosted the Europa League final. It also hosted the inaugural Nations Cup, as well as the regular home fixtures of the national rugby team, national football team and some home fixtures for Leinster Rugby from August 2010 onwards.
Unlike its predecessor, which was solely owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the current stadium is controlled by the IRFU and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) through a 50:50 joint venture known as the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC). The joint venture has a 60-year lease on the stadium; on expiry the stadium will return to the exclusive ownership of the IRFU.