RDS Arena
Staid an Chumainn Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath | |
Royal Dublin Society Arena | |
Location | Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°19′32″N 6°13′46″W / 53.32556°N 6.22944°W |
Public transit | DART: Sandymount Station Dublin Bus Routes: 4, 7, 7a, 7n, 18, 27x Aircoach Route: 702 (Dublin Airport to Greystones/Bray) Luas: Beechwood (Green Line; 2.3 km walk) |
Owner | Royal Dublin Society |
Capacity | 18,500 (16,500 seated) |
Record attendance | 22,000 (38,000 for a concert) |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Opened | 1868 |
Renovated | 2007–09 |
Expanded | 2007 |
Tenants | |
Shamrock Rovers F.C. (1990–1996) Leinster Rugby (2005–present) |
RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports stadium, owned by the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge, Ireland.
The arena was developed to host equestrian events, primarily the annual
The demountable north and south stands are removed for equestrian events, with only the Grandstand and Anglesea Stand permanent. The Anglesea Stand was completed in 1927.
History
The Grandstand was rebuilt in 2006 for the 2006–07 rugby season, to replace the old wooden stand when Leinster first became permanent tenants. A roof was added during 2008–09. There are plans to redevelop the Arena, replacing the Anglesea Stand with another new permanent stand, which would incorporate the only terraced area of the stadium.[1]
In July 2014, it was announced by the RDS and Leinster Rugby that a design competition was being held to develop the arena into a 25,000 capacity world class stadium, with work expected to commence on the redevelopment in April 2016.[2] The selling of naming rights to the arena will be a key component in funding the project, with a budget of at least €20,000,000 being proposed.[3] A consortium of architect firms, Dublin-based Newenham Mulligan Architects and London-based Grimshaw Architects, won the international design competition for the multimillion-euro redevelopment of the RDS Arena.[4]
Sporting events
Association Football
The Stadium first hosted a football match on 30 September 1990 when
Ireland International Football Matches | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Home | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
19 February 1992 | Republic of Ireland | 0–1 | Wales | Friendly | 15,100[8] |
25 May 2010 | Republic of Ireland | 2–1 | Paraguay | Friendly | 16,722[9][10] |
28 May 2010 | Republic of Ireland | 3–0 | Algeria | Friendly | 16,800[11] |
Show Jumping
The Arena was originally constructed to host show-jumping events, the
In 1925 Colonel Zeigler of the Swiss Army first suggested holding an international jumping event. The Aga Khan of the time heard of this proposal and offered a challenge trophy to the winner of the competition. In 1926 International Competitions were introduced to the show and was the first time the Nations' Cup for the Aga Khan Challenge trophy was held.[12] Up until 1949 the Nations' Cup teams had to consist of military officers. Six countries competed in the first international teams competition for the Aga Khan Challenge trophy – Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Ireland. The Swiss team won the title on Irish bred horses.[12]
In 1976, after 50 years of international competition, the two grass banks in the Arena were removed so the Arena could be used for other events. The continental bank at the western end of the Main Arena was added later.[12]
The RDS also hosted the
Rugby union
The stadium first opened its doors to
The 2007–08 season saw the RDS become the official home of Leinster when the branch signed a 20-year lease on the ground, with all of the home games for the season to be hosted there. This change came about after it became apparent that the team's former home of Donnybrook Stadium no longer had a sufficient capacity. After renovation and expansion, the Grandstand and North and South Stands were expanded, boosting the capacity to 18,500 along with floodlights being installed and a new playing surface being laid, to withstand the demands of a full rugby season and show jumping events.
The RDS had proven to be a very successful hunting ground for Leinster, as they won 11 of their 12 home games that season, culminating on Saturday 3 May 2008 in a 41–8 victory over
The RDS hosted the autumn rugby international between Ireland and Fiji on 21 November 2009, with Ireland running out convincing winners 41–6.
Ireland International Rugby Union Matches | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Home | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
13 February 2009 | Ireland A | 35–10 | Scotland A | — | [16] |
21 November 2009 | Ireland | 41–6 | Fiji | 2009 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 16,500[14] |
4 November 2022 | Ireland A | 19–47 | All Blacks XV |
2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals | [17] |
Rugby League
In August 1995 Ireland won their first ever home rugby league match against Scotland at the RDS Arena, as a curtain raiser to the charity shield match between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors.[18] The matches were played before an attendance of 5,716, a record for an international rugby league match on Irish soil.[19]
Rugby League Matches | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Home | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
13 August 1995 | Ireland | 26–22 | Scotland | Test Match | 5,716[19] |
Leeds Rhinos | 45–20 | Wigan Warriors | Charity Shield |
Wrestling
The Arena hosted a
Concerts
Thin Lizzy played RDS Area on April 9 and 10th 1983 on their Thunder and Lighting Tour.
Tina Turner played her Break Every Rule World Tour on 30 May 1987. She also stopped here with her Foreign Affair: The Farewell Tour from 27–29 October 1990. Her last performance was to 40,000 people on her Twenty Four Seven Tour, on 11 July 2000.
Bruce Springsteen has played 11 times at the arena. His first show was during the Tunnel of Love Express Tour in 1988 in front of 42,000 fans, the second one in 1993 during the Bruce Springsteen 1992–1993 World Tour in front of 40 000 people and then during the Reunion Tour in front of 40 000 people and The Rising Tour in 1999 and 2003 in front of 40 000 people each time. He played three sold-out shows during the Magic Tour in 2008 in front of more than 115,000 people, and then in 2009 during the Working on a Dream Tour his two concerts at the arena sold more than 80,000 tickets. He played again in 2012 during his Wrecking Ball World Tour for 76,000 people. Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band will return to the Arena on the 5 and 7 May 2023 as part of their 2023 International Tour, with a third, additional show on 9 May 2023.
Simple Minds played the RDS on their Street Fighting Years tour, 19 August 1989.
Prince played the venue on 13 June 1992 as part of his Diamonds and Pearls Tour.
U2 played the arena on 27 and 28 August 1993 as a conclusion to the Zooropa tour, the European stadium leg of the ZooTV tour, which supported the album Achtung Baby. The second show was broadcast internationally on the radio, being 15–20 minutes delayed, reportedly due to the band's generosity to the playing time of their opening bands (Scary Eire and Stereo MC's). During the opening number Zoo Station on this night, Bono altered a lyric to say "Hey child, it's alright, sleeping in my own bed tonight."
The Eagles played their Hell Freezes Over tour on 6 July 1996.
Radiohead played to 38,000 people, on 20 June 1997, which was their highest attended performance at the time.
Michael Jackson played his HIStory World Tour concert on 19 July 1997 here in front of more than 43,000 people.
Shania Twain performed there on 10 July 1999 as part of her Come On Over Tour.
Britney Spears performed at RDS on 6 June 2004 as part of The Onyx Hotel Tour.
Guns N' Roses played at the venue on 9 June 2006, as part of their Chinese Democracy Tour.
Bon Jovi have played the venue many times most recently in June 2019 playing two nights. They played over two nights in June 2011 to over 80,000 people.
Paul McCartney played RDS on his Up and Coming Tour on 12 June 2010 and was thankful to the venue, due to a fireworks display that couldn't be done in an indoor arena (such as the O2 Arena, which hosted his Good Evening Europe Tour, 2009).
Justin Bieber played here as part of his Purpose World Tour on 21 June 2017.
Fleetwood Mac played at the RDS as part of their An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour on 13 June 2019.
Iron Maiden performed at the RDS during their Early Days tour in 2005 to a crowd of over 35 thousand, supported by Turbonegro and Marilyn Manson, the first time the latter had been allowed to play in Ireland.
Boney M. performed at the RDS on 27 November 1978. This concert was recorded by RTÉ Television and broadcast on Christmas Day 1978 as part of the 'Event on Two' series. In 2015, the concert was released on DVD, called Diamonds.
Foo Fighters performed here on 21 August 2019 as part of their Summer European Tour.
Post Malone played at the RDS as part of his Beerbongs & Bentleys Tour on 22 August 2019.
Rammstein will perform here as part of their Stadium Tour on 23 June 2024.
Religious Gatherings
The Arena was the principal venue for the 50th International Catholic
References
- ^ "Leinster Rugby : OLSC : Supporters Questions for the Chief Executive..." Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Latest News - the Official Home of Leinster Rugby".
- ^ "Leinster Rugby announces winner of RDS Arena design competition". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Winners of RDS Arena Redevelopment Competition Announced - RDS". www.rds.ie. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015.
- ^ "A Brief History of Shamrock Rovers". Goggins, Robert. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ StPatsFC.com – Match Report
- ^ "Ireland to face Paraguay and Algeria". Football Association of Ireland. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "19.02.1992 at 00:00 RDS, Dublin". Soccer Scene. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "25.05.2010 at 19:45 RDS Dublin". Soccer Scene. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland 2-1 Paraguay". RTE. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "28.05.2010 at 19:45 RDS Dublin". Soccer Scene. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Dublin Horse Show History | Dublin Horse Show, 17-21 August 2022".
- ^ Watterson, Johnny (16 May 2009). "RDS to host Fiji for debut on international rugby stage". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Ireland 41-6 Fiji". BBC Sport. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Disappointment for Ireland as McWilliams era opens with defeat to Wales at RDS". the42. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Ireland A 35-10 Scotland A". RTE. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Ireland A battered, bruised and outclassed by a dominant All Blacks Development XV". Irish Times. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Legacy: The Class of '95". Scotland RL. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Scotland vs. Ireland". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "WWE SmackDown! House Show - 18 June 2005".
- ^ "Venues". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ "What is a Eucharistic Congress". Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Momentous Occasion". Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ O'Connell, Edel (11 June 2012). "Attendance". Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Attendance". Retrieved 16 June 2012.