Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium
Association football, Rugby Union: 51,700American football: 49,000Concerts: 65,000
Outdoor
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Aviva Stadium is a sports venue, situated in Dublin, Ireland which was constructed after demolishing the Lansdowne Road Stadium in 2007 at the cost of €410 million. It has hosted many international soccer events such as Europa League & Nations Cup, and regular matches of the National Rugby Team, Leinster Rugby, and National Football Team. It is the stamping ground for Republic of Ireland Football Team and Irish Rugby Union Team.
The stadium was designed as Barcelona’s previous stadiums “Stadium Ireland” and “Eircom Park” could not be expanded. It is designed in a bowl shape and has four levels of seating arrangement. The roof is designed in a wave-like manner to avoid blocking of light to local residences. The stadium is jointly maintained by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). After a span of 60 years, the ownership will be conveyed to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). They have also signed a 10-year deal with Aviva for naming rights. Apart from hosting various national and international level soccer events and other sporting events, it has also hosted numerous concerts with dynamic performances of celebrities such as Neil Diamond, The Script, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Robbie Williams, Roger Waters, AC/DC and many more.
Significance
- During the Heineken Cup game season 2010-11, football club Leinster won for the first time against Clermont Auvergne in a pool game by 24-8.
- The stadium hosted the Nations Cup Tournament of 2011 where football teams of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland participated.
- In 2011, the UEFA Europa League final was conducted in the stadium for which it was termed as the "Dublin Arena". The match was played between Portuguese sides Braga and Porto where the latter won the match.
- After renovation, the stadium hosted its first FAI Cup Final in 2010 which was witnessed by a recorded attendance of 36,101 spectators in the history of the FAI Cup Final.
- The stadium was honored with the British Construction Industry Award in 2011.
