The Aviva Stadium is hosting what is likely to be a fiery Nations League clash between the Republic of Ireland and England on Saturday, 7 September.
With the two nations so close in proximity, expect plenty of English fans to make the short trip across the Irish Sea for the match.
It is a magnificent stadium, located in Dublin, Ireland, and has a capacity of 51,700.
But the ground has an extremely interesting design, which leaves many visitors with one question—why is one end 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?
In 13 months, FSU fans and Georgia Tech fans will be here for the Aer Lingus Football Classic. @AVIVAStadium is a really beautiful facility. It seats just over 51,000. https://t.co/5uKazEXxQ8 pic.twitter.com/9h2L8teE7C
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) July 17, 2023
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 local 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.