Lansdowne Road Stadium is named after the road along which it runs on the south side of Dublin in the fashionable Ballsbridge area. The stadium is in an ideal position for match goers because of its close proximity to Dublin City Center, but also because the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) runs through the stadium. Lansdowne road has a number of claims to fame, it is the oldest rugby test venue and it is the only stadium in the world that a train line runs through the main stand. There have been many famous occasions in Lansdowne road since the days of Jack Charlton and the green army which saw Ireland qualify for three world cups since 1990, and every body in Ireland has their own memories of triumph in this famous arena. With a capacity of just over 49,000 people for International rugby matches, the famous Lansdowne Road Roar is an intimidating sight. For International soccer matches the stadium has to be converted to all seated which brings the figures down to 35,000 people. The project is due to be finished by 2009 at a coast of e395m with the Irish government putting e150m towards the project. The days for Lansdowne Road are numbered as new plans for a modern stadium to be built on the current Lansdowne Road site. Many see Lansdowne Road as a dilapidated stadium which has lived far past its sell by date. The new Lansdowne Road will be a 50,000 all seated stadium which will be co-owned by both the IRFU and the FAI. In the meantime Croke Park, a very impressive 82,000 seated stadium will become home to international rugby and football fixtures in Ireland. |
