Sports stadium in Dublin, Ireland
This article is about the rebuilt Lansdowne Road stadium. For the original stadium that was built in 1872, see
Lansdowne Road .
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).[9] 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,[10] and subsequently extended the arrangement until 2025.[11]
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 hosted the 2011 UEFA Europa League final and the 2024 UEFA Europa League final . It also hosted the 2011 Nations Cup , as well as the regular home fixtures of the national rugby team, national football team and some home fixtures for Leinster Rugby and Lansdowne Football Club from 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;[12] on expiry the stadium will return to the exclusive ownership of the IRFU.[13]
History [ edit ] The stadium was officially opened on 14 May 2010 by then Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Brian Cowen .[14] [15] [16] In 2011, the stadium won a British Construction Industry Award .[17]
During the COVID-19 pandemic , the Irish Army (operating under Operation Fortitude) used the stadium for testing from 14 May onwards, following the handover from the Naval Service (which had been conducting tests under Operation Fortitude at Sir John Rogerson's Quay until that time).[18]
Rugby union [ edit ] Rugby union matches Date Competition Home Away Score Attendance 31 July 2010 Challenge match Leinster /Ulster Munster /Connacht 68–0 35,115[19] 2 October 2010 2010–11 Magners League Leinster Munster 13–9 50,645[20] 6 November 2010 Test match Ireland South Africa 21–23 35,517[21] 13 November 2010 Test match Ireland Samoa 20–10 30,985[22] [23] 20 November 2010 Test match Ireland New Zealand 18–38 49,302[24] 28 November 2010 Test match Ireland Argentina 29–9 30,476[25] 18 December 2010 2010–11 Heineken Cup pool stage Leinster Clermont Auvergne 24–8 44,873[26] 13 February 2011 2011 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 22–25 51,700[27] 19 March 2011 2011 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 24–8 51,000[28] 9 April 2011 2010–11 Heineken Cup quarter-final Leinster Leicester Tigers 17–10 49,762[29] 30 April 2011 2010–11 Heineken Cup semi-final Leinster Toulouse 32–23 50,073[30] 20 August 2011 Test match Ireland France 22–26 45,165[31] 27 August 2011 Test match Ireland England 9–20 48,523[32] 4 November 2011 2011–12 Pro12 Leinster Munster 24–19 48,365[33] 17 December 2011 2011–12 Heineken Cup pool stage Leinster Bath 52–27 46,365[34] 5 February 2012 2012 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 21–23 51,000[35] 25 February 2012 2012 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 42–10 51,000[36] 19 March 2012 2012 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 32–14 51,000[37] 7 April 2012 2011–12 Heineken Cup quarter-final Leinster Cardiff Blues 34–3 50,340[38] 28 April 2012 2011–12 Heineken Cup semi-final Ulster Edinburgh 22–19 45,147[39] 6 October 2012 2012–13 Pro12 Leinster Munster 30–21 46,280[40] 10 November 2012 Test match Ireland South Africa 12–16 49,781[41] 24 November 2012 Test match Ireland Argentina 46–24 43,406[42] 15 December 2012 2012–13 Heineken Cup pool stage Leinster Clermont Auvergne 21–28 48,964[43] 10 February 2013 2013 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 6–12 51,000[44] 9 March 2013 2013 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 13–13 51,000[45] 18 May 2013 2013 Heineken Cup Final Clermont Toulon 15–16 50,148[46] 9 November 2013 Test match Ireland Samoa 40–9 39,108[47] 16 November 2013 Test match Ireland Australia 15–32 51,000[48] 24 November 2013 Test match Ireland New Zealand 22–24 51,000[49] 14 December 2013 2013–14 Heineken Cup pool stage Leinster Northampton Saints 9–18 47,370[50] 2 February 2014 2014 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 28–6 51,000[51] 8 February 2014 2014 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 26–3 51,045[52] 8 March 2014 2014 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 46–7 52,000[53] 29 March 2014 2013–14 Pro12 Leinster Munster 22–18 51,700[54] 4 October 2014 2014–15 Pro12 Leinster Munster 23–34 43,817[55] 8 November 2014 Test match Ireland South Africa 29–15 51,100[56] 16 November 2014 Test match Ireland Georgia 49–7 40,156[57] 22 November 2014 Test match Ireland Australia 26–23 51,100[58] 13 December 2014 2014–15 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Harlequins 14–13 38,503[59] 14 February 2015 2015 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 18–11 51,200[60] 1 March 2015 2015 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 19–9 51,200[61] 4 April 2015 2014–15 Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals Leinster Bath 18–12 43,958[62] 15 August 2015 Test match Ireland Scotland 28–22 31,780[63] 29 August 2015 Test match Ireland Wales 10–16 47,430[64] 19 December 2015 2015–16 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster RC Toulonnais 16–20 44,925[65] 7 February 2016 2016 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 16–16 51,700[66] 12 March 2016 2016 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 58–15 51,700[67] 19 March 2016 2016 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 35–25 51,700[68] [69] 2 April 2016 2015–16 Pro12 Leinster Munster 16–13 43,108[70] 8 October 2016 2016–17 Pro12 Leinster Munster 25–14 40,527[71] 12 November 2016 Test match Ireland Canada 52–21 43,000[72] 19 November 2016 Test match Ireland New Zealand 9–21 51,700[73] 26 November 2016 Test match Ireland Australia 27–24 51,700[74] 17 December 2016 2016–17 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Northampton Saints 60–13 38,584[75] 25 February 2017 2017 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 19–9 51,700[76] 18 March 2017 2017 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 13–9 51,700[77] 1 April 2017 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup Leinster Wasps 32–17 50,226[78] 22 April 2017 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup Munster Saracens 10–26 51,300[79] 27 May 2017 2017 Pro12 Grand Final Munster Scarlets 22–46 44,558[80] 7 October 2017 2016–17 Pro12 Leinster Munster 23–17 46,374[81] 11 November 2017 Test match Ireland South Africa 38–3 51,700[82] 18 November 2017 Test match Ireland Fiji 23–20 51,000[83] 25 November 2017 Test match Ireland Argentina 28–19 51,000[84] 16 December 2017 2017–18 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Exeter Chiefs 22–17 40,604[85] 10 February 2018 2018 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 56–19 51,700[86] 24 February 2018 2018 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 37–27 51,700[87] 8 March 2018 2018 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 28–8 51,700[88] 1 April 2018 2017–18 Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals Leinster Saracens 30–19 51,700[89] 21 April 2018 2017–18 Rugby Champions Cup Semi-finals Leinster Scarlets 38–16 48,455[90] 26 May 2018 2018 Pro14 Grand Final Leinster Scarlets 40–32 46,092[91] 6 October 2018 2018–19 Pro14 Leinster Munster 30–22 50,120[92] 10 November 2018 Test match Ireland Argentina 28–17 51,700[93] 17 November 2018 Test match Ireland New Zealand 16–9 51,700[94] 24 November 2018 Test match Ireland United States 57–14 51,000[95] 15 December 2018 2018–19 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Bath 42–15 40,261[96] 2 February 2019 2019 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 20–32 51,000[97] 10 March 2019 2019 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 26–14 51,000[98] 30 March 2019 2018–19 Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals Leinster Ulster 21–18 51,700[99] 21 April 2019 2018–19 Rugby Champions Cup Semi-finals Leinster Toulouse 30–12 42,960[100] 10 August 2019 Test match Ireland Italy 29–10 30,000[101] 7 September 2019 Test match Ireland Wales 19–10 50,000[102] 14 December 2019 2018–19 Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Northampton Saints 50–21 42,041[103] 1 February 2020 2020 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 19–12 51,700[104] 8 February 2020 2020 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 24–14 51,700[105] 22 August 2020 2019–20 Pro14 Leinster Munster 27–25 0*[106] 23 August 2020 2019–20 Pro14 Connacht Ulster 26–20 0*[107] 29 August 2020 2019–20 Pro14 Ulster Leinster 10–28 0*[108] 30 August 2020 2019–20 Pro14 Munster Connacht 49–12 0*[109] 4 September 2020 2019–20 Pro14 Leinster Munster 13–3 0*[110] 12 September 2020 2020 Pro14 Grand Final Leinster Ulster 27–5 0*[111] 19 September 2020 2019–20 Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals Leinster Saracens 17–25 0*[112] 24 October 2020 2020 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 50–17 0*[113] 13 November 2020 Autumn Nations Cup Ireland Wales 32–9 0*[114] 29 November 2020 Autumn Nations Cup Ireland Georgia 23–10 0*[115] 5 December 2020 Autumn Nations Cup Ireland Scotland 31–16 0*[116] 14 February 2021 2021 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 13–15 0*[117] 20 March 2021 2021 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 32–18 0*[118] 3 July 2021 Test match Ireland Japan 39–31 3,000*[119] 10 July 2021 Test match Ireland United States 71–10 6,000*[120] 25 September 2021 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Leinster Bulls 31–3 19,419*[121] 23 October 2021 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Connacht Ulster 36–11 9,175[122] 6 November 2021 Test match Ireland Japan 60–5 40,000[123] 13 November 2021 Test match Ireland New Zealand 29–20 51,700[124] 21 November 2021 Test match Ireland Argentina 53–7 45,500[125] [126] 11 December 2021 2021–22 Rugby Champions pool stage Leinster Bath 45–20 25,403[127] 5 February 2022 2022 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 29–7 51,700[128] 27 February 2022 2022 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 57–6 51,000[129] 19 March 2022 2022 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 26–5 51,000[130] 15 April 2022 2021–22 Rugby Champions Cup Round of 16 Leinster Connacht 56–20 32,604[131] 1 May 2022 All-Ireland League Division 1A Final Clontarf Terenure College 29–23 5,788[132] 7 May 2022 2021–22 Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals Munster Toulouse 24–24 (a.e.t. ) 2–4 40,479[133] 15 May 2022 2021–22 Rugby Champions Cup Semi-finals Leinster Toulouse 40–17 42,067[134] 21 May 2022 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Leinster Munster 35–25 32,411[135] 22 October 2022 2022–23 United Rugby Championship Leinster Munster 27–13 45,436[136] 5 November 2022 Test match Ireland South Africa 19–16 51,700[137] 12 November 2022 Test match Ireland Fiji 35–17 51,700[138] 19 November 2022 Test match Ireland Australia 13–10 51,700[139] 17 December 2022 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Ulster Stade Rochelais 29–36 0[140] 21 January 2023 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Racing 92 36–10 43,560[141] 11 February 2023 2023 Six Nations Championship Ireland France 32–19 51,700[142] 18 March 2023 2023 Six Nations Championship Ireland England 29–16 51,700[143] 1 April 2023 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Round of 16 Leinster Ulster 30–15 51,700[144] 7 April 2023 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Quarter-finals Leinster Leicester Tigers 55–24 27,000[145] 29 April 2023 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Semi-finals Leinster Toulouse 41–22 46,823[146] 6 May 2023 United Rugby Championship quarter-final Leinster Sharks 35–5 14,642[147] 7 May 2023 All-Ireland League Division 1A Final Terenure College Clontarf 50–24 8,642[148] 13 May 2023 United Rugby Championship semi-final Leinster Munster 15–16 26,795[149] 20 May 2023 European Rugby Champions Cup final Leinster Stade Rochelais 26–27 51,711[150] 5 August 2023 World Cup warm-up matches Ireland Italy 33–17 [151] 19 August 2023 World Cup warm-up matches Ireland England 29–10 51,000[152] 25 November 2023 2023–24 United Rugby Championship Leinster Munster 21–16 49,246[153] 13 January 2024 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage Leinster Stade Francais 43–7 42,003[154] 11 February 2024 2024 Six Nations Championship Ireland Italy 36–0 51,700[155] [156] 24 February 2024 2024 Six Nations Championship Ireland Wales 31–7 51,700[157] 16 March 2024 2024 Six Nations Championship Ireland Scotland 17–13 51,700[158] 6 April 2024 Round of 16 Leinster Leicester Tigers 36–22 40,775[159] 13 April 2024 Quarter-finals Leinster La Rochelle 40–13 51,700[160] 28 April 2024 All-Ireland League Division 1A Final Cork Constitution Terenure College 33–22 7,768[161] Row colours: green for club matches, yellow for international ones * Denotes match in which COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance
Internationals [ edit ] The stadium during a match between Ireland and the United States The Ireland national rugby union team plays its home games at the stadium, as it did previously at Lansdowne Road , taking over from their temporary home, Croke Park , where games were played during Aviva's construction. Ireland's first international game was on 6 November 2010 against South Africa , with the Springboks winning 23–21. The game drew a crowd of 35,515, mainly due to a backlash by Ireland supporters over the IRFU's controversial ticketing strategy for the November Test series .[162] Initially, the IRFU announced that tickets to the November Tests would only be sold as packages for all four matches. Later, it announced that the tickets would instead be split into two packages, with the South Africa Test bundled with the following week's match with Samoa for a minimum of €150, and the New Zealand and Argentina Tests bundled for a minimum of €190. single-game tickets were to be available only for the Samoa and Argentina Tests. On 1 November, the IRFU backed away from this plan amid heavy criticism from member clubs that had problems selling the packages in a difficult economy .[163]
Lansdowne Road was replaced by the Aviva Stadium, shown here during construction The first rugby union game at the Aviva was an exhibition game on 31 July 2010, billed as the O2 Challenge, involving under-18 and under-20 players from all four of Ireland's provincial sides, with a Leinster /Ulster side defeating a Munster /Connacht combination 68–0.[164] As part of the run-up to the event, O2 ran a promotion which gave the winner the opportunity to attempt to score the ceremonial first points at the Aviva via a simulated conversion kick on the day before the match. The winner of the promotion, John Baker of Ennis , was successful.[165] The first official points at the Aviva were scored by Ulster's Craig Gilroy with a try in the O2 Challenge.[164]
Ireland won twelve consecutive matches at the Aviva between 2016 and 2018.[166] They bested that record achieving their 13th consecutive home win in week two of the 2023 Six Nations .[167] Ireland extended that record to 14 straight wins and achieved their 4th ever Grand Slam in 29–16 victory over England on 18 March 2023.[168] Ireland beat Scotland at the Aviva on 16 March 2024, to become back-to-back Six Nations outright champions for only the third time in history, extending their record of 19 consecutive home wins.[158]
Ireland's record at the Aviva Competition Played Won Drawn Lost % Won Test Match 40 31 0 9 77.5% Six Nations 35 28 2 5 80% Total 75 59 2 14 78.67%
Updated 17 March 2024
Club competition [ edit ] The stadium also hosts some home games for Leinster when the RDS Arena 's smaller capacity does not satisfy demand. Leinster won their opening home game in the Aviva against Munster 13–9, in the Celtic League (now United Rugby Championship) season, in front of a then record league attendance of 50,645.[169] This league record was exceeded on 29 March 2014 when Leinster again beat Munster, 22–18, in front of 51,700 people.[54]
Leinster won their first Heineken Cup game in the stadium 24–8, against Clermont Auvergne in a pool game during the 2010–11 season .[170] During Leinster's successful run to the Heineken Cup title that season, they took their quarter-final and semi-final matches to the stadium, defeating Leicester Tigers [171] and Toulouse respectively.[172] Ulster took their 2012 Heineken Cup semi-final to the stadium as well,[173] defeating Edinburgh .[174]
The 2013 Heineken Cup Final took place in the stadium on 18 May 2013[175] where Toulon beat Clermont Auvergne 16–15.[176] The Heineken Cup final had last been held in Dublin in 2003, when Toulouse beat Perpignan 22–17 at Lansdowne Road in front of 28,600.[177]
The stadium hosted a second European Champions Cup final in 2023 when La Rochelle beat Leinster 27–26.[178]
Updated 13 April 2024
Ireland vs. Poland Euro 2016 Qualifier Ireland vs. Argentina from 2010 Football matches Date Competition Home Away Score Attendance 31 July 2010 Challenge Match League of Ireland XI Manchester United 1–7 49,861[179] 11 August 2010 Friendly Republic of Ireland Argentina 0–1 45,200[180] 7 September 2010 Euro 2012 qualification Republic of Ireland Andorra 3–1 40,283[181] 8 October 2010 Euro 2012 qualification Republic of Ireland Russia 2–3 50,411[182] 14 November 2010 2010 FAI Cup Final Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 0–0 (aet ) (2–0 pens ) 36,101[183] 17 November 2010 Friendly Republic of Ireland Norway 1–2 25,000[184] 8 February 2011 2011 Nations Cup Republic of Ireland Wales 3–0 19,783[185] 9 February 2011 2011 Nations Cup Scotland Northern Ireland 3–0 18,742[186] 26 March 2011 Euro 2012 qualification Republic of Ireland North Macedonia 2–1 30,000[187] 29 March 2011 Friendly Republic of Ireland Uruguay 2–3 25,611[188] 18 May 2011 2011 UEFA Europa League Final Porto Braga 1–0 45,391[189] 24 May 2011 2011 Nations Cup Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland 5–0 15,083[190] 25 May 2011 2011 Nations Cup Wales Scotland 1–3 6,036[191] 27 May 2011 2011 Nations Cup Wales Northern Ireland 2–0 529[192] 29 May 2011 2011 Nations Cup Republic of Ireland Scotland 1–0 17,694[193] 30 July 2011 Dublin Super Cup Inter Milan Celtic 2–0 [194] 30 July 2011 Dublin Super Cup Manchester City League of Ireland XI 3–0 [195] 31 July 2011 Dublin Super Cup League of Ireland XI Celtic 0–5 [196] 31 July 2011 Dublin Super Cup Inter Milan Manchester City 0–3 [197] 10 August 2011 Friendly Republic of Ireland Croatia 0–0 20,179[198] 2 September 2011 Euro 2012 qualification Republic of Ireland Slovakia 0–0 44,761[199] 11 October 2011 Euro 2012 qualification Republic of Ireland Armenia 2–1 45,200[200] 6 November 2011 2011 FAI Cup Final Shelbourne Sligo Rovers 1–1 (aet ) (1–4 pens ) 21,662[201] 15 November 2011 Euro 2012 play-offs Republic of Ireland Estonia 1–1 51,151[202] 29 February 2012 Friendly Republic of Ireland Czech Republic 1–1 37,741[203] 26 May 2012 Friendly Republic of Ireland Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 37,100[204] 12 October 2012 2014 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Germany 1–6 49,850[205] 4 November 2012 2012 FAI Cup Final Derry City St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 (aet ) 16,117[206] 14 November 2012 Friendly Republic of Ireland Greece 0–1 16,256[207] 6 February 2013 Friendly Republic of Ireland Poland 2–0 43,112[208] 26 March 2013 2014 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Austria 2–2 50,000[209] 2 June 2013 2013 FAI Junior Cup Final Sheriff YC Kilbarrack United 0–0 (aet ) (5–4 pens ) [210] 7 June 2013 2014 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Faroe Islands 3–0 19,000[211] 10 August 2013 Friendly Liverpool Celtic 0–1 51,000[212] 6 September 2013 2014 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Sweden 1–2 49,500[213] 15 October 2013 2014 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Kazakhstan 3–1 21,700[214] 3 November 2013 2013 FAI Women's Cup Final Raheny United Castlebar Celtic 3–2 (aet ) [215] 3 November 2013 2013 FAI Cup Final Drogheda United Sligo Rovers 2–3 17,753[216] 15 November 2013 Friendly Republic of Ireland Latvia 3–0 37,100[217] 5 March 2014 Friendly Republic of Ireland Serbia 1–2 37,243[218] 14 May 2014 Friendly Liverpool Shamrock Rovers 4–0 42,517[219] 25 May 2014 2014 FAI Junior Cup Final Ballynanty Rovers St Michael's 0–4 [220] 25 May 2014 Friendly Republic of Ireland Turkey 1–2 22,000[221] 3 September 2014 Friendly Republic of Ireland Oman 2–0 14,376[222] 11 October 2014 Euro 2016 qualification Republic of Ireland Gibraltar 7–0 35,123[223] 2 November 2014 2014 FAI Women's Cup Final Raheny United UCD Waves 2–1 (aet ) [224] 2 November 2014 2014 FAI Cup Final Derry City St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 17,038[225] 18 November 2014 Friendly Republic of Ireland United States 4–1 23,000[226] 29 March 2015 Euro 2016 qualification Republic of Ireland Poland 1–1 50,500[227] 17 May 2015 2015 FAI Junior Cup Final Sheriff YC Liffey Wanderers 1–2 (aet ) [228] 17 May 2015 2015 FAI Intermediate Cup Final Tolka Rovers Crumlin United 0–4 250[229] 5 June 2015 Friendly Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland 0–0 50[230] 7 June 2015 Friendly Republic of Ireland England 0–0 43,486[231] 13 June 2015 Euro 2016 qualification Republic of Ireland Scotland 1–1 49,063[232] 8 October 2015 Euro 2016 qualification Republic of Ireland Germany 1–0 50,604[233] 8 November 2015 2015 FAI Women's Cup Final Wexford Youths Shelbourne 2–2 (aet ) (4–2 pens ) [234] 8 November 2015 2015 FAI Cup Final Cork City Dundalk 0–1 (aet ) 25,103[235] 16 November 2015 Euro 2016 qualification Republic of Ireland Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 51,000[236] 25 March 2016 Friendly Republic of Ireland Switzerland 1–0 35,450[237] 29 March 2016 Friendly Republic of Ireland Slovakia 2–2 30,217[238] 14 May 2016 2016 FAI Junior Cup Final Sheriff YC Pike Rovers 1–0 [239] 14 May 2016 2016 FAI Intermediate Cup Final Crumlin United Letterkenny Rovers 5–0 3,106[240] 27 May 2016 Friendly Republic of Ireland Netherlands 1–1 42,438[241] 30 July 2016 Friendly Celtic Barcelona 1–3 47,900[citation needed ] 17 August 2016 UEFA Champions League Play-off Dundalk Legia Warsaw 0–2 30,417[242] 31 August 2016 Friendly Republic of Ireland Oman 4–0 27,000[243] 6 October 2016 2018 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Georgia 1–0 39,793[244] 6 November 2016 2016 FAI Women's Cup Final Shelbourne Wexford Youths 5–0 800[245] 6 November 2016 2016 FAI Cup Final Cork City Dundalk 1–0 (aet ) 26,400[246] 24 March 2017 2018 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Wales 0–0 49,989[247] 28 March 2017 Friendly Republic of Ireland Iceland 0–1 37,241[248] 13 May 2017 2017 FAI Junior Cup Final Sheriff YC Evergreen 2–0 3,500[249] 13 May 2017 2017 FAI Intermediate Cup Final Cobh Ramblers Liffey Wanderers 2–2 (aet ) (4–5 pens ) 3,500[250] 4 June 2017 Friendly Republic of Ireland Uruguay 3–1 27,193[251] 11 June 2017 2018 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Austria 1–1 50,000[252] 5 August 2017 Friendly Liverpool Athletic Bilbao 3–1 51,333[253] 5 September 2017 2018 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Serbia 0–1 50,153[254] 6 October 2017 2018 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Moldova 2–0 50,560[255] 5 November 2017 2017 FAI Women's Cup Final Cork City UCD Waves 1–0 [256] 5 November 2017 2017 FAI Cup Final Dundalk Cork City 0–0 (aet ) (3–5 pens ) 24,210[257] 6 October 2017 2018 World Cup qualification Playoff Republic of Ireland Denmark 1–5 50,000[258] 12 May 2018 2018 FAI Junior Cup Final Pike Rovers North End United 1–1 (aet ) (4–5 pens ) [259] 12 May 2018 2018 FAI Intermediate Cup Final Maynooth University Town Firhouse Clover 4–1 (aet ) [260] 2 June 2018 Friendly Republic of Ireland United States 2–1 32,300[261] 1 August 2018 Friendly Arsenal Chelsea 1–1 (6–5 pens ) 46,002[262] 4 August 2018 Friendly Liverpool Napoli 5–0 51,512[263] 13 October 2018 2018–19 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Denmark 0–0 41,220[264] 16 October 2018 2018–19 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Wales 0–1 38,321[265] 4 November 2018 2018 FAI Women's Cup Final Wexford Youths Peamount United 1–0 [266] 4 November 2018 2018 FAI Cup Final Cork City Dundalk 1–2 30,412[267] 15 November 2018 Friendly Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland 0–0 31,241[268] 26 March 2019 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Republic of Ireland Georgia 1–0 40,317[269] 11 May 2019 2019 FAI Intermediate Cup Final Avondale United Crumlin United 1–0 [270] 10 June 2019 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Republic of Ireland Gibraltar 2–0 36,281[271] 5 September 2019 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Republic of Ireland Switzerland 1–1 44,111[272] 10 September 2019 Friendly Republic of Ireland Bulgaria 3–1 18,259[273] 3 November 2019 2019 FAI Women's Cup Final Wexford Youths Peamount United 3–2 2,500[274] 3 November 2019 2019 FAI Cup Final Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 1–1 (aet ) (4–2 pens ) 33,111[275] 14 November 2019 Friendly Republic of Ireland New Zealand 3–1 18,728[276] 18 November 2019 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Republic of Ireland Denmark 1–1 51,700[277] 6 September 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Finland 0–1 0*[278] 11 October 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Wales 0–0 0*[279] 18 November 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Bulgaria 0–0 0*[280] 26 November 2020 UEFA Europa League Dundalk Rapid Wien 1–3 0*[281] 6 December 2020 2020 FAI Cup Final Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 2–4 (aet ) 0*[282] 10 December 2020 UEFA Europa League Dundalk Arsenal 2–4 0*[283] 27 March 2021 2022 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Luxembourg 0–1 0*[284] 15 July 2021 UEFA Europa Conference League qualification Bohemians Stjarnan 3–0 6,000*[285] 29 July 2021 UEFA Europa Conference League qualification Bohemians F91 Dudelange 3–0 8,000*[286] 3 August 2021 UEFA Europa Conference League qualification Bohemians PAOK 2–1 8,000*[287] 4 September 2021 2022 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Azerbaijan 1–1 21,287*[288] 7 September 2021 2022 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Serbia 1–1 25,415*[289] 12 October 2021 Friendly Republic of Ireland Qatar 4–0 25,749*[290] 11 November 2021 2022 World Cup qualification Republic of Ireland Portugal 0–0 50,737[291] 28 November 2021 2021 FAI Cup Final St Patrick's Athletic Bohemians 1–1 (aet ) (4–3 pens ) 37,126[292] 26 March 2022 Friendly Republic of Ireland Belgium 2–2 48,808[293] 29 March 2022 Friendly Republic of Ireland Lithuania 1–0 30,686[294] 8 June 2022 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Ukraine 0–1 40,111[295] 11 June 2022 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Scotland 3–0 46,947[296] 27 September 2022 UEFA Nations League Republic of Ireland Armenia 3–2 41,718[297] 13 November 2022 2022 FAI Cup Final Derry City Shelbourne 4–0 32,412[298] 17 November 2022 Friendly Republic of Ireland Norway 1–2 41,140[299] 22 March 2023 Friendly Republic of Ireland Latvia 3–2 41,211[300] 27 March 2023 UEFA Euro Qualifying Republic of Ireland France 0–1 50,219[301] 29 July 2023 Friendly Celtic Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 28,244[302] 6 August 2023 Friendly Manchester United Athletic Bilbao 1–1 50,238[303] [304] 10 September 2023 UEFA Euro Qualifying Republic of Ireland Netherlands 1–2 49,807[305] 13 October 2023 UEFA Euro Qualifying Republic of Ireland Greece 0–2 41,239[306] 12 November 2023 2023 FAI Cup Final Bohemians St Patrick's Athletic 1–3 43,881[307] 21 November 2023 Friendly Republic of Ireland New Zealand 1–1 26,517[308] 23 March 2024 Friendly Republic of Ireland Belgium 0–0 38,128[309] 26 March 2024 Friendly Republic of Ireland Switzerland 0–1 35,742[310] 22 May 2024 2024 UEFA Europa League Final Atalanta Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3–0 47,135[311] * Denotes match in which COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance
The stadium also hosts the home games of the Republic of Ireland national football team , as did Lansdowne Road . The team had played most home games at Croke Park during the construction of the Aviva Stadium. The first football match in the Aviva Stadium was Manchester United against a League of Ireland XI side, managed by Damien Richardson , on 4 August 2010.[312] Manchester United won the game 7–1, with Park Ji-Sung scoring the first ever goal in the Aviva Stadium.[313] The first international game for Ireland in the Aviva Stadium was a 1–0 friendly loss against Argentina on 11 August 2010.[314] The first competitive goal was scored by Kevin Kilbane in a Euro 2012 qualifying game on 7 September 2010 against Andorra .[315]
Updated as of 27 March 2024.
FAI Cup Final [ edit ] St Patrick's Athletic vs Bohemians in the 2021 FAI Cup Final . The Aviva has annually hosted the FAI Cup Final since 2010. While the Aviva Stadium was under construction the cup final hosting was shared between the RDS Arena and Tallaght Stadium . The first Cup Final at the new stadium was the 2010 FAI Cup Final , held on Sunday 14 November 2010. Sligo Rovers beat Shamrock Rovers 2–0 on penalties after the game finished 0–0 after extra time. A total of 36,101 attended the game making it the biggest attendance at an FAI Cup Final since 1968.[183] A total of 37,126 spectators were in attendance for the 2021 Final in which St Patrick's Athletic defeated Bohemians on penalties.[292] The Aviva hosted 43,881 for the 2023 Final , a record breaking attendance for an FAI Cup final.[307]
2011 Nations Cup [ edit ] The 2011 Nations Cup took place in the Aviva Stadium. The tournament featured national football teams from Scotland , Wales , Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . In the opening round of fixtures, the Republic of Ireland beat Wales 3–0 while Scotland beat Northern Ireland 3–0. The remaining four fixtures took place in May, with the Republic of Ireland winning the tournament after beating Scotland 1–0 on 29 May, with Keane scoring the only goal.[316]
2011 Europa League final [ edit ] The 2011 UEFA Europa League final between Portuguese sides Porto and Braga took place in the Aviva Stadium. Due to UEFA rules against corporate sponsorship outside the federation, the stadium was referred to as the "Dublin Arena " for this final,[317] [318] that ended with a 1–0 victory for Porto courtesy of a Radamel Falcao goal. Porto thus won the treble of Primeira Liga , Taça de Portugal , and Europa League.[319]
Dublin Super Cup [ edit ] The Dublin Super Cup was a pre-season football tournament which was held at the Aviva. Celtic , Manchester City , Inter Milan and a League of Ireland XI competed in the 2011 edition, with Manchester City winning the tournament.[320] [321]
The 'Dublin Decider' [ edit ] The 'Dublin Decider' was a game which took place on 10 August 2013. The match was played between Celtic and Liverpool , with both teams having large support in Ireland. Celtic won the match 1–0 thanks to a goal from Amido Balde .[322]
There were talks ongoing about a return of the 'Dublin Decider' in the summer of 2014 with clubs such as Barcelona , Manchester United and Celtic being mentioned as potential visitors to the Aviva Stadium. It was confirmed in March 2016 that Celtic would face Barcelona in the stadium on 30 July 2016, however, this was as part of the annual International Champions Cup pre-season tournament, and not any sort of independent 'Dublin Decider' fixture. Barcelona won the game 3–1.
Abandoned UEFA Euro 2020 hosting [ edit ] On 19 September 2014, UEFA announced that the stadium would host four fixtures in the Euro 2020 finals tournament, three of which would be group games and, the fourth, a round of 16 matches. Had Ireland qualified they would have been guaranteed two home group games.[323] As Aviva was not a commercial partner of the Euro 2020 tournament, the stadium would have been referred to as the Dublin Arena throughout. However, the COVID-19 pandemic intervened and UEFA postponed the tournament until 2021 (though UEFA retained the tournament's original name). Restrictions still in force after the pandemic's Third Wave struck the Republic of Ireland , killing thousands in the early part of 2021, meant that Dublin and the Aviva Stadium were unable to fulfil their hosting duties to UEFA's satisfaction and, therefore, the stadium lost its Euro 2020 host rights. The announcement, which came on 23 April 2021, allocated Dublin's three group games to the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg , Russia , and Dublin's originally scheduled last 16 (group D winner vs group F runner up ) tie to Wembley Stadium in London , England .[324]
On 16 July 2021, the UEFA Executive Committee announced that due to the withdrawal of hosting rights for Euro 2020, the Aviva Stadium was given hosting rights for the 2024 UEFA Europa League Final . This was part of a settlement agreement by UEFA to recognise the efforts and financial investment made to host UEFA Euro 2020.[325] The stadium would later get hosting rights for UEFA Euro 2028 .
2024 Europa League final [ edit ] Thirteen years after the 2011 final , Aviva Stadium hosted the 2024 Europa League final between Italian side Atalanta and German side Bayer Leverkusen . Due to UEFA rules against corporate sponsorship outside the federation, the stadium was referred to as the "Dublin Arena " for the final.[326] Leverkusen, who was seeking to emulate what Porto did in 2011 having won the Bundesliga and due to play in the DFB-Pokal final , was soundly beaten by Atalanta 3–0, winning the latter's first ever European trophy and breaking Leverkusen's unbeaten streak.[327]
UEFA Euro 2028 [ edit ] In October 2023, UEFA announced the venues for the UEFA Euro 2028 . The Aviva Stadium, alongside other venues in the United Kingdom , will host several matches in the tournament.[328]
Other events [ edit ] The stadium in American football configuration for Navy vs. Notre Dame in 2012 On 1 September 2012, the stadium hosted an American college football game billed as the Emerald Isle Classic between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen . Notre Dame won 50–10.[329]
The 2016 Aer Lingus College Football Classic was announced as a matchup between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Boston College Eagles to be played on 3 September 2016. The result was a 17–14 win by the Yellow Jackets.[330]
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Northwestern Wildcats kicked off their 2022 seasons at the Aviva Stadium with Northwestern winning 31–28.[331] [332] It was soon confirmed that Notre Dame would once again play Navy in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium on 26 August 2023.[333] Notre Dame ran out winners with the final score 42–3.[334]
Concerts [ edit ] Concerts at the Aviva Stadium Date Artist Tour Attendance 24–25 September 2010 Michael Bublé Crazy Love Tour 95,895[337] 25 June 2011 Neil Diamond World Tour 2011 50,108 2 July 2011 The Script Science & Faith Tour 47,910 24 July 2012 Madonna The MDNA Tour 33,953 15 September 2012 Lady Gaga The Born This Way Ball 37,005 14 June 2013 Robbie Williams Take the Crown Stadium Tour 50,000[338] 21 June 2013 Rihanna Diamonds World Tour 48,482 18 September 2013 Roger Waters The Wall Live 24,210 1 July 2015 AC/DC Rock or Bust World Tour 52,000[339] 21 June 2016 Rihanna Anti World Tour 29,017 17 June 2017 Robbie Williams The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour 50,000[340] 25 June 2017 Phil Collins Not Dead Yet Tour 37,609 23 June 2018 Billy Joel Billy Joel in Concert 40,590 22 June 2022 Harry Styles Love On Tour 50,422[341] 24 June 2022 Eagles Hotel California 2020 Tour 40,000[342] 8–9 July 2022 Westlife The Wild Dreams Tour 87,367[341] 20–21 June 2024 Pink Pink Summer Carnival 28–30 June 2024 Taylor Swift The Eras Tour
Facilities [ edit ] The stadium is a bowl shape with four tiers on three sides of the ground; the lower and upper tiers are for general access, the second and third levels feed the second tier for premium tickets and the third tier for corporate boxes. The northern end of the stadium, due to its proximity to local housing, incorporates only the lower tier of the bowl. This end of the stadium is to be the away stand for football internationals. There is one basement level and seven storeys of floors including ground level. The premium level holds 10,000 spectators, while the box level holds 1,300.[2] The remaining 38,700 seats are shared between the top and bottom tiers. The capacity of the stadium was criticised even before its opening for being too small, particularly in light of the large supporter attendance figures for Irish rugby internationals and football internationals at Croke Park since 2007.[343] The stadium's roof undulates in a wave-like manner so as to avoid blocking light to local residences.[344]
Aviva Stadium Panoramic view
Transport connections [ edit ] The stadium is served by public transport with Bus and DART . More remotely, it may also be reached, following by the Luas and on foot. The stadium is inaccessible by car on match days due to a 1 km car-free exclusion zone in operation.
Service Location Route Dublin Bus Pembroke Road Bus routes 4, 7, 7a, 18 – 600-metre walk to stadium entrance Charlotte Quay Bus routes 1, 77a – 1.2 km walk to stadium entrance Luas – Green Line Charlemont 2.2 km walk Luas – Red Line Point Village 2.1 km walk Iarnród Éireann – DART Lansdowne Road Direct to stadium
See also [ edit ] References [ edit ]