Overview
Aviva Stadium is the national home of both Irish rugby and football, shared by the two codes. It stands on the Lansdowne Road site in Ballsbridge, where the game has been played since the 1870s, and opened in its current form on 14 May 2010 with 51,711 seats. The Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football Association of Ireland jointly own and run it. Beyond internationals, it hosts European finals and stadium concerts.
Is Aviva Stadium open for tours?
The stadium’s visitor FAQ says public stadium tours are currently unavailable. The way to see the place is to go to an event, such as a rugby international, a Republic of Ireland match or a concert. Use the event organiser for tickets.
From Lansdowne Road to the Aviva
The ground’s history runs back to 1872, when the sportsman Henry Wallace Dunlop founded Lansdowne Road. It held the first international athletics meeting in 1876 and the first rugby international a couple of years later. The old stadium was demolished in 2007 and rebuilt on the same footprint. Since reopening it has staged the 2011 and 2024 Europa League finals, the 2023 Champions Cup final, and an American-football game between Notre Dame and Navy.
The roof
Designed by the stadium specialists Populous, the Aviva’s translucent curved roof is the thing you notice first. It’s often described as retractable, but it isn’t. The roof covers the spectator seating and floods the bowl with daylight, but it doesn’t close over the pitch, so a wet international is still a wet international. The curve maximises light onto the grass and cuts the wind swirl that plagues open bowls.
Going to an event
Check the colour-coded route on your ticket. The stadium directs some gates from Lansdowne Road DART station and others from Grand Canal Dock. Allow time for road restrictions and checks at the gate.
There is no general public parking at the stadium. Ask the event organiser in advance about limited accessible parking passes, and check current road and transport arrangements for your event before you travel.
If you are travelling with young children, check the event’s age rules and leave buggies and prams at home under the stadium’s standard policy.
Food, facilities and the cash question
The stadium’s FAQ lists card or contactless payments at bars and food kiosks, so leave the notes at home.
Accessibility
The accessibility guide lists dedicated entrances with lifts, wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets. Contact the event organiser in advance about accessible tickets, limited parking passes and any assistance.
Around the ground
Afterwards, Ballsbridge is on the doorstep, with Georgian streets and a walk along the Grand Canal. For high-demand matches, check with the event organiser for how and when tickets are released, and plan around the fixture list. Then get there early: the pubs along Lansdowne Road fill up well before kick-off, and that’s half the day out.