Best Place to Sit at Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

Written by Aviran Zazon | Last updated on February 1, 2026

Aviva Stadium is a brilliant rugby ground for one simple reason: it’s modern, compact, and built for clean sightlines. With a capacity of around 51,711, it feels close even when you’re up high — and for most people, that means there are very few genuinely bad seats.

The real question isn’t “will I see the match?” — it’s what kind of experience you want:

Best All-Round View (follow the full shape of the game easily)
Best Atmosphere (more noise, more try-line drama)
Best Value (strong view without the top price band)
Best For First-Timers (simple, “TV-angle” seats)

Aviva Stadium Tickets

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Aviva Seating Plan In 30 Seconds

Aviva is a four-stand bowl:

East & West = the long sides (best for an easy, all-round view)
South = behind the posts (often the loudest “home end” feel for rugby)
North = the smaller end (quieter, and commonly used for away allocation in football)

Most tickets show a block number. Broadly:

100s = lower tier
300s = middle tier
500s = upper tier

The Best Seats Overall (default best pick)

If you want one simple rule that rarely disappoints, it’s this:

Pick the East or West Stand, close to halfway, with a bit of height.

That usually means:

Middle tier near halfway (best balance of view + comfort)
or front rows of the upper tier near halfway (often the best value version of the same idea)

Fans consistently say that sitting higher on the long side makes it easier to read everything that’s happening across the full width and length of the pitch.

Comment byu/Polamora from discussion inrugbyunion

Best Blocks For The All-Round View

East Stand (Long Side): aim for 104–107 (lower), 305–307 (middle), or 505–507 (upper front rows)
West Stand (Long Side): aim for 124–126 (lower), 324–327 (middle), or 523–526 (upper front rows)

Tip: If two seats are similar, choose the one closer to halfway first — then choose the one with a little more height.

Best Seats For First-Timers (Easiest To Follow The Match)

If it’s your first time at Aviva (or you’re bringing someone who just wants to enjoy the day without overthinking it), stick to the long sides and keep it simple:

East or West Stand
Between the two 22-metre lines (roughly the central blocks)
10–20 rows up tends to be a great “sweet spot” if you’re in the lower tier

Best Seats For Atmosphere (Noise + Try-Line Drama)

If your priority is the crowd — singing, momentum swings, and that “everyone’s on their feet” feeling — go behind the posts.

For Ireland rugby matches, the South Stand is often where the energy is most consistent. You get more of the “end-on” feel: tries coming at you, conversions in front of you, and a crowd that reacts hard to every break.

Best Blocks For Atmosphere

South Stand: target 114–116 (lower), 315–318 (middle), or 514–516 (upper)
Corner upgrade: if South is sold out, the near corners (around 112/117) often keep the buzz but improve the angle

Best Value Seats (Strong View Without The Premium Price)

The best value at Aviva is usually: upper tier, long side, close to halfway.

It’s the same “best view” logic — just a cheaper version. And because Aviva is relatively compact, the upper tier still feels connected.

One practical way to shop is to target the central upper blocks on either long side:

East Upper: 503–508
West Upper: 522–527

Seats To Avoid (Or Be Careful With)

Aviva doesn’t have many “bad” seats — but a couple of patterns are worth knowing before you buy.

1) The Very First Rows (Especially In The Lower Tier)

Pitch-level seats can feel intense, but they can also make it harder to follow play when it moves away from you — especially in rugby where the ball shifts quickly from one side to the other.

Comment byu/TheDynamicAlmond from discussion inrugbyunion

Simple fix: if you’re choosing lower tier, aim for roughly 10–20 rows up where possible.

2) End-On Seats If You Want A Side-On “TV” View

Behind the posts is great for atmosphere and try-line moments — but if your goal is to read the full shape of the match (spacing, exits, where the pressure is building), you’ll usually prefer the long sides.

Football Vs Rugby: Any Differences?

For football, behind-the-goal seats can be a great choice for atmosphere (especially if you’re near the more animated sections). For rugby, most people who care about the flow of the match lean toward the East/West long sides.

Also worth knowing: for Republic of Ireland football matches, the North Stand is often the easiest stand to allocate for away fans because it’s the smaller end.

So… What Should You Buy?

Goal	Best Pick	Blocks To Target
Best All-Round View	Long side, near halfway, with a bit of height	305–307 (East) / 324–327 (West)
Best Atmosphere	Behind the posts (louder, more try-line drama)	114–116 (South Lower) / 315–318 (South Middle)
Best Value	Upper long side, near halfway	503–508 (East Upper) / 522–527 (West Upper)
First-time, safe bet	East/West, between the 22s	104–107 (Lower) or 505–507 (Upper front)

Compare Aviva Stadium Tickets The Smart Way

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Best Place to Sit at Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

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