Aviva Stadium – stadium description

There's quite a task ahead of successor of the legendary Lansdowne Road Stadium. It seems though that the new ground is fit for the challenge. Aviva Stadium, built in the place of destroyed predecessor in 2007-2010, retained traditional shape with northern stand being much smaller than all the rest. That's not only a historical reference, but a real necessity. Construction raised too high in this part of the ground would block sunlight for local residents, living in homes just several meters from the venue.

Apart from the form, unique in global scale, proper lighting is also guaranteed by transparent roof and facade made of glass „louvers”. This solution was the idea of Populous and Scott Tallon Walker architects, who worked together on the project.

Investment of €410mln was backed with public money, but the major shares are private and come from the Irish rugby and football FA's (IRFA and FAI). Both institutions decided to split their shares 50:50 for the first 60 years of the ground's existence and if the deal is not renegotiated afterward, the whole ground goes back to IRFA, who previously were the sole owners of Lansdowne Road.

For the vast amount of money Dublin received a new sporting heart to host major events, not only in national scale. After less than a year in operation, venue hosted the Europa League final, after being very positively received by UEFA. Capacity of slightly over 51,000 seats accommodates a massive 12,300 corporate clients in a premium seating tier (2^nd level) and a ring of skyboxes mounted above it.

These premium seats split the remaining “regular” fans, who are based on the first and third tiers. Both the excessive corporate facilities and naming rights deal (first decade of existence was bought by Aviva insurance company) are supposed to allow for the investment to pay back.