Aviva Stadium design: Why is one end so low?

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin has been the home of Irish football and rugby since its opening in 2010, and it has become one of the most recognisable grounds in Europe over the past 16 years.

Fans heading to the stadium quickly notice the Aviva's unique design, which features a surprisingly low stand, which typically houses the away supporters on matchdays.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's Irish national football team missed out on World Cup 2026, but they enjoyed a number of fantastic nights at the Aviva in qualifying – beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 2-0 in November chief among them.

The main attraction at the Aviva this summer is the series of concerts set to be held there, and thousands of Metallica, Take That and Dermot Kennedy fans will descend on the ground. It will also host Premier League champions Arsenal for their friendly against Real Betis on August 5.

Here, Football Ground Guide answers one of the most common questions visitors have about the venue: Why is one end of the Aviva 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.

With that in mind, the Aviva Stadium was designed with one end of the ground being noticeably low in order to limit the ground's imposition on nearby residents.

Specifically, the venue's North Stand – which often seats away fans – 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.

This gives the stadium a unique feel whether in the ground or watching on television, while also helping to create a sense that those in the away end are surrounded by their hosts.