Aviva Stadium design: Why is one end so low?

Dublin's Aviva Stadium has been the backdrop for the Republic of Ireland's UEFA World Cup qualifying campaign, with two of their three group F competitors making the trip to the Irish capital so far.

The Boys in Green are currently unbeaten at the stadium in qualifying, having earned a point in a 2-2 draw with Dominik Szoboszlai's Hungary on matchday one, and a vital 1-0 win against Armenia most recently.

However, the national team's World Cup 2026 hopes hang in the balance given that they are third in the group – one point behind Trikolor – and Portugal's visit to the Aviva Stadium on November 13 is sure to be a crucial showdown for a home side that have not made the finals since 2002.

The venue is also set to host the Sport Direct Men's FAI Cup final between Shamrock Rovers and Cork City on November 9, one of the most anticipated events in Irish sport. With a number of highlight fixtures on the calendar for both football and rugby fans, and a matchday capacity of 51,700, the Aviva Stadium is expected to attract thousands, many of whom will be struck by the ground's unique design.

Here, Football Ground Guide answers one of the most common questions: Why is one end of the stadium so low?

What is the Aviva Stadium?

The Aviva Stadium is a multi-purpose facility that is the home of both the Irish rugby and football teams – the pair have an equal-split joint ownership lease on the site until 2070.

Officially opened in 2010 to replace its predecessor, Lansdowne Road Stadium, it has an impressive capacity of 51,700 and makes for a lively venue.

Despite being a relatively new ground, the Aviva Stadium has plenty of history regarding hosting important football matches. Over the years, countless domestic fixtures have been played on its pitch, as well as two separate Europa League finals, the first being in 2011 and the most recent in 2023.

It is an extremely versatile stadium, and American football has also been played on the site a handful of times.

Why is one end so low at the Aviva Stadium?

Let's all look forward to 2030 world cup qualifying. Horrible result tonight

— Fra (@fragillen) September 6, 2025

With football stadiums seemingly growing every year, residents in the respective local areas surrounding these grounds are becoming increasingly worried about the effect this has on their homes.

As a result, the Aviva Stadium was designed with one end of the ground being far lower than the other, and a construction decision was made to limit the ground's imposition on the residents.

Specifically, the venue's North Stand is much lower than the other three stands, all of which house the seats of choice for supporters keen on having the best view of the pitch.

Therefore, it is an incredibly unique stadium that provides a matchday experience different from the vast majority of other grounds in world football.