SPONSORED
The Aviva Stadium is a recently completed sporting stadium located in Dublin, in Ireland, with an all-seater capacity of 50,000. It is also commonly known, colloquially, as Lansdowne Road, and referred to as the Dublin Arena by UEFA. The 50,000-seat stadium designed by Populous and Irish architect Scott Tallon Walker was built on the site of Ireland’s famous Lansdowne Road stadium. The first game saw Leinster/Ulster thrash a Munster/Connacht team 68-0.
The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the Republic of Ireland national football team. The decision to redevelop the stadium came after plans for both Stadium Ireland and Eircom Park fell through. The Aviva Group signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights beating Vodafone and Diageo.
The stadium, located adjacent to Lansdowne Road railway station, officially opened on May 14, 2010. The stadium is Ireland's first, and only, UEFA Elite Stadium and in 2011, it will host the Europa League Final. It will also host the inaugural 4 Associations' Tournament, as well as the regular home fixtures of the national rugby team and national football team from August 2010 onwards.
