Dublin's Aviva Stadium has been the home of Irish sport since 2010, and fans from around the world have often noticed the uniquely-shaped low end when visiting for everything from football and rugby matches to concerts.
On Saturday, Ireland's national rugby team will welcome Italy to the Aviva for their second Six Nations clash, keen to bounce back after losing 36-14 to France last Thursday, and Andy Farrell's men will be looking to the home crowd for support. Wales and Scotland will also head to the stadium in the coming weeks.
Fans will be hoping to replicate the magic from one of the most famous nights at the Aviva in recent times, when the Republic of Ireland football side bolstered their 2026 World Cup hopes with a memorable 2-0 win over Portugal in qualifying on November 13.
In that clash, AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott scored a brace to bag the three points for the Boys in Green, while Cristiano Ronaldo received a straight red card for throwing a blatant elbow, compounding his team's woes.
Read on as Football Ground Guide answers one of the most common questions visitors have about the ground: 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.
