RDS Arena (Dublin)

RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports stadium, owned by the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge, Ireland.

General information

Arena capacity: 18,500 spectators

Address: Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 AK83, Ireland

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°19′32″N 6°13′46″W

Year of construction: 1868

Field: grass lawn

Seating plan of RDS Arena

The stadium has two main covered stands running along the touchlines. The Anglesea Stand is the older of the two, and also offers the only standing terrace in the ground to its front. There are some supporting pillars here, so views can be a little obstructed but not to any great extent. Sitting opposite is the impressive modern Grandstand. Behind both sets of posts are large sections of uncovered seating, known as the North and South Stands, that can be removed for the equestrian events that also take place at the RDS.

How to get there?

Here are the most common methods to get to the stadium you’ll probably want to know about.

By Car

Outside Trinity College, take Nassau Street (N11) for about 150 metres then turn right following the signposts for the R118. Follow the R118 (also locally known Mount Street; turns into Merrion Road) for approximately 2km. The RDS Showgrounds will be situated on the right hand side.

By Bus

The RDS is serviced by several bus routes nationally (see Bus Éireann) and locally by Dublin Bus. The direct Dublin Bus routes to RDS Ballsbridge from Nassau Street outside Trinity College:

• 4    From Harristown To Monkstown Avenue via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
• 7    From Mountjoy Sq. Towards Loughlinstown/ Cherrywood via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
• 18   From Palmerstown (Old Lucan Rd.) Towards Sandymount via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
• 8    From Mountjoy Sq. via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
• 7X From UCD Belfield To Clare Hall Via RDS Ballsbridge

There are also multiple routes serviced to and from the nearby Stillorgan Road, Bus Garage stop 772 which is only 10 minutes walking distance from the RDS.

By Local Train

The DART service operates from the City Centre to Ballsbridge. Lansdowne Station and Sandymount Station are approximately a 5 minute walk from the RDS.

Directions from Sandymount Station:

Follow the exit signs and turn right onto Sandymount Avenue. Continue until you reach the traffic light – the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge will be directly in front of you. For the Main Complex, Halls 1-7, turn right onto Merrion Road and the entrance will be on your left. For the Simmonscourt Complex, Hall 8, continue straight ahead from the crossroads, passing the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge on your left. The Simmonscourt Complex is down the road on the left.

By Ferry

There are two ports in the Dublin area that offer passenger services.

Dublin Port:

Stena Line Ferry services run from Holyhead in North Wales to Dublin, taking just over 3 hours. Irish Ferries also operate on this route, taking between 2 hours and just over 3 hours depending on the service selected. Bus connections to the City Centre are operated by Dublin Bus and take around 30 minutes.

Dún Laoghaire Port:

Stena Line Ferry services run from Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire, taking around 2 hours. From Dún Laoghaire, you can take the DART suburban railway to Dublin or mainline rail services. Buses also operate from Dún Laoghaire to Dublin. It is also the handier port for the stadium, as it is located to the South of the city.

Parking at the RDS

Parking is configured at the RDS according to the location, timing and nature of the event. It is recommended to call to check parking arrangements for the event you are attending. There are three main entrances/parking areas at the RDS: Merrion Road, Simmonscourt Rd and Anglesea Road.

If travelling to the RDS for a match by car, Leinster Rugby would advise supporters to use the RDS Simmonscourt car park. A flat fee is charged upon entry.

Where to eat and sleep?

There are a number of bars inside the ground, although these do not provide a great deal of protection from the elements. Therefore, most fans tend to drink in one of the nearby pubs prior to kick-off.

Most supporters meet up before and after Leinster matches in the Horse Show House on Merrion Road. Other popular watering holes in the area include Paddy Cullens, Crowes and Mary Macs.

Dublin is famed for its nightlife, and although most visitors head to the Temple Bar area in the City Centre, it can be fairly expensive and packed with stag and hen parties. If that isn’t your scene there are a multitude of other places you can drink in Dublin, from traditional Irish bars with live music to large nightclubs open until the small hours – check out one of the guides online.

You are unlikely to go hungry in Dublin, which caters for every budget and preference, although the popular tourist areas will tend to be more expensive so it’s best to shop around or check out reviews to ensure you get value for money.

From luxury hotels to dirt-cheap hostels, Dublin caters for every type of visitor so simply search online to find what you fancy, though be warned that prices tend to be above average due to the popularity of the city. The majority of first-time visitors stay in the City Centre close to the action, although if you want a more relaxed stay you could consider staying in the Ballsbridge / Donnybrook area near to the ground and still be within easy reach of the main sights.

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. 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. 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. 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.