Key facts
| Address | Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 |
| Capacity | 18,500 seats |
| Build Date | 1868 |
| Record Attendance | 20,000 |
Description
RDS Arena is a sports stadium located in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland. It belongs to the RDS. It is the permanent home of Leinster Rugby that replaced Donnybrook. The stadium is also used as a venue for the FAI Cup final because Lansdowne Road, the permanent venue, is being under the renovation. There are several stands, and the oldest one is Anglesea Stand, which was built in 1927. The Grandstand was constructed in 2006. Today it comes with the TV gantry and the roof that was installed in 2008. There are also the South and North stands located behind the goals.
The arena was constructed for equestrian events, particularly, the Dublin Horse Show, which took place at the ground for the first time in 1881. In 1879, the site was purchased by the RDS. The arena is mainly used by Leinster Rugby and Champions Cup, but it is also a venue for wrestling and soccer events. The total capacity of the ground is 18,500, and 16,500 of which is seated.
There were revealed the plans to replace the Anglesea Stand with the new stand. In 2014, the RDS announced its common plan with Leinster Rugby to redevelop the arena so that its capacity could be increased up to 25,000. The budget of the redevelopment was around 20 million euro. The project was won by Newenham Mulligan Architects and Grimshaw Architects.
How to get to
From Trinity College, you need to take N11, drive for around 160 yards, and then right toward the R118. Drive for around 1 mile until you see the RDS Showgrounds located on the right-hand side.
FAQ
The RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports venue located in Dublin, Ireland. It’s primarily known as the home ground of Leinster Rugby, one of the four professional provincial rugby teams in Ireland.
The RDS Arena has a long history dating back to 1868 when the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) first established the grounds. However, it has undergone several renovations and redevelopments over the years to become the modern sports venue it is today.
The name “RDS Arena” comes from the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), which owns and operates the venue. The RDS is a philanthropic organization founded in 1731 to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland.
The RDS Arena has a capacity of approximately 18,500 for rugby matches. However, this can vary depending on the event being hosted.
While primarily used for rugby, the RDS Arena is a versatile venue. It hosts various events including concerts, equestrian competitions (most notably the Dublin Horse Show), and other sporting events.
The RDS Arena is not a fully all-seater stadium. It has a mix of seated areas and terraced standing areas. The exact configuration can change depending on the event being held.
The RDS Arena is located in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. It’s easily accessible by public transport, with several bus routes serving the area. The nearest DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) station is Lansdowne Road, which is about a 10-minute walk from the arena.
We are coming to Bruce’s concert a week Tuesday but weather says thunder and lightening . Will thd show go ahead . Is there a roof that comes over ? We are in side where there’s no covered seating any help would be appreciated kind regards
Jules from England x