Featured image credit: Leinster Rugby
The Royal Dublin Society, owner of RDS Arena, has been given the go-ahead for a €50m (£43m/$55m) expansion of the stadium, which serves as the home of United Rugby Championship team Leinster.
The RDS submitted a new planning application to Dublin City Council for the redevelopment of the stadium back in June. The project would raise the capacity of the stadium from 18,500 to 21,500.
The Irish Independent newspaper has now reported that Dublin City Council has given the green light for the project, which will centre on a new 6,775-capacity stand. No objections were filed against the application and it is estimated that the expanded stadium would provide around €254m in additional tourism revenue over 25 years.
The project will be funded by the RDS, the Irish Government and private investors. Under the plans, the existing Anglesea stand, first built close to a century ago, will be demolished along with the Anglesea Terrace. It is hoped that construction work can begin in August 2024.
As well as the new stand, a two-storey hospitality and services building and club shop would be built. The RDS had been seeking fresh planning permission for the project after an application lapsed that was initially backed in 2018.
In October 2022, it was announced that Leinster will continue to play at the RDS Arena for the next 25 years after a new agreement was signed with the RDS. Leinster has played at the stadium since September 2005 and signed its first lease deal with the RDS two years later.
Prior to moving to the venue, Leinster played matches at Donnybrook Stadium. The club currently plays some high-profile games at the larger Aviva Stadium.
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