Aviva Stadium Seating Plan

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Written by Aviran Zazon | Last updated on January 23, 2026

Aviva Stadium Seating Plan at a Glance

• Capacity: 51,711 (Rugby & Football)
• Opened: 2010
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• UEFA Stadium Rating: Category Four

The Aviva Stadium seating plan is arranged as a modern, four-sided bowl, built on the former Lansdowne Road site in south Dublin. Unlike older rugby grounds, the Aviva was designed from the ground up for clear sightlines, meaning there are very few genuinely poor seats anywhere in the stadium.

The East and West Stands run along the touchlines, while the North and South Stands sit behind the posts. All seats are covered, and the bowl design keeps spectators close to the pitch despite the stadium’s relatively modest capacity compared to venues like Twickenham or the Principality Stadium.

Although the Aviva regularly hosts Republic of Ireland football matches and some of Ireland’s biggest concerts, this guide focuses primarily on rugby, including Six Nations tickets and Autumn Internationals tickets, with notes where the experience differs for football or live music.

East Stand Seating at Aviva Stadium

The East Stand is a popular choice for first-time visitors following the Aviva Stadium seating plan. Running the full length of the pitch, it offers a classic side-on perspective that makes the flow of a rugby match easy to follow.

Sightlines here are among the most balanced in the stadium, particularly from the middle and upper tiers. You get a clear view of attacking width, defensive spacing and kicking strategy without distortion.

Many fans note that the view feels similar to watching on television, which reflects the fact that broadcast cameras are positioned along the touchline at mid-pitch height, giving this stand a familiar “TV angle”.

The atmosphere in the East Stand is generally measured rather than intense. It attracts a broad mix of regular supporters, families, overseas visitors and some corporate seating, making it well suited to spectators who want clarity and comfort over constant noise.

For non-rugby events, the East Stand can also be a strong option for concert tickets, as it often provides a well-balanced side view of the stage, depending on the setup.

Best for:

• First-time visitors
• Tactical rugby viewing
• Clear, broadcast-style sightlines

Less ideal for:

• Fans seeking the loudest sections of the stadium

South Stand Seating at Aviva Stadium

If you’re chasing pure Irish rugby atmosphere, the South Stand is where it usually peaks. Located behind the posts, it’s widely regarded as the primary home end for Ireland rugby matches.

The end-on viewing angle creates a strong sense of depth, especially when Ireland are attacking. Scrums, mauls, lineouts and goal-line defence feel close and intense from the lower tier, while the upper tier remains well connected thanks to the stadium’s steep rake.

This is the stand where noise and momentum tend to build fastest during Six Nations fixtures, particularly against England or France.

The trade-off is perspective. When play moves to the far touchline, some tactical detail is lost, meaning this stand prioritises emotion and immersion over strategy. A large video screen mounted above this end helps fill in the gaps when the ball is at the opposite side of the pitch.

For Republic of Ireland football matches, the South Stand is also commonly associated with home support, although exact allocations vary by fixture.

Best for:

• Atmosphere and noise
• Emotional, high-energy matchdays
• Big Ireland moments near the try-line

Less ideal for:

• Fans who want a full tactical overview

West Stand Seating at Aviva Stadium

The West Stand is widely regarded as the main stand at the Aviva Stadium. It houses the players’ tunnel and team benches, along with a large proportion of premium and hospitality seating, making it a key focal point on matchday.

From a viewing perspective, sightlines are excellent across all tiers, particularly around the halfway line. Like the East Stand, it provides a clear side-on view of the pitch, but the atmosphere here is often more relaxed.

The middle tier, in particular, contains many debenture and hospitality seats, which can make sections feel calmer during play, even when the stadium is full.

This is the best stand if you enjoy watching teams walk out, substitutes warm up or coaches at work. Concourse access and facilities are also among the smoothest in the stadium, adding to a more comfortable overall experience.

For football tickets, the West Stand typically hosts a mix of home fans and neutrals. For rugby, it remains one of the most dependable choices for clear, uninterrupted viewing.

Best for:

• Central views
• Comfort and amenities
• Seeing players enter and exit the pitch

Less ideal for:

• Fans looking for constant crowd noise

North Stand Seating at Aviva Stadium

The North Stand is the smallest stand in the Aviva Stadium seating plan, shaped largely by planning restrictions due to nearby residential areas. Positioned behind the posts opposite the South Stand, it has a more compact and contained feel than the rest of the stadium.

For Ireland rugby tickets, this stand typically hosts a mix of visiting supporters, neutrals and home fans, which gives it a slightly different character from the main home sections.

For Republic of Ireland football matches, away supporters are often allocated to the North Stand, as its size and layout make segregation more straightforward.

Viewing here is straight down the pitch, making it a good spot for watching set-pieces, goal attempts and defensive work.

However, the smaller roof structure means crowd noise doesn’t echo as strongly as it does in the South Stand, so the atmosphere can feel more restrained, particularly for lower-profile fixtures.

Overall, the North Stand suits spectators who prefer a calmer matchday experience or are attending with mixed allegiances.

Best for:

• Neutral or visiting supporters
• Groups attending together
• A more relaxed viewing experience

Less ideal for:

• Fans seeking maximum noise and intensity

Where Are the Best Seats at Aviva Stadium?

Choosing the best seats using the Aviva Stadium seating plan depends on what you value most, but a few patterns consistently emerge from fan feedback.

Best seats for overall rugby viewing at Aviva Stadium

For most spectators, the strongest all-round seats are in the middle tier of the East or West Stand, ideally between the two 22-metre lines. These rugby tickets provide enough height to read the game properly while keeping you close enough to feel involved.

Many regulars describe this area as the “sweet spot” of the Aviva Stadium seating plan.

Best seats for atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium

If atmosphere is your priority, the South Stand delivers the most consistent home-crowd energy for Ireland rugby. Sitting slightly higher in this stand often improves visibility without sacrificing noise.

High vs low seating at the Aviva Stadium

Very low seats offer intensity and closeness but can flatten your perspective, especially when play moves away from you. Seats 10–20 rows up generally offer the clearest balance between view and involvement.

Best seats for first-time visitors at Aviva Stadium

First-time visitors are usually best served by touchline seating in the East or West Stand, mid-tier or front rows of the upper tier. These areas minimise compromises and make the game easy to follow.

Accessibility at Aviva Stadium

Aviva Stadium has been designed so that spectators with disabilities can access all areas and levels of the stadium, with facilities and assistance available throughout the venue on matchdays and event days.

Accessible Tickets & Companion Seating

• Wheelchair users and spectators with reduced mobility, or with audio/visual impairments, may be eligible for a complimentary personal assistant ticket
• Requests should be made in advance when purchasing tickets

Wheelchair & Accessible Seating

• 230 wheelchair spaces, each with a corresponding companion seat
• Wheelchair seating is distributed across all levels of the stadium
• All wheelchair viewing areas are step-free and lift-accessible

Accessible Parking

• A limited number of accessible parking passes are available
• Parking passes are allocated by event organisers, usually at least five working days before the event
• Access to parking closes two hours before kick-off due to Garda road closures
• Approach routes are printed on the parking pass itself

Dedicated Accessible Entrances

There are five fully serviced accessible entrances, all with lift access:

• Entrance E – Lower West Stand
• Entrance X – Upper West Stand
• Entrance A – South Stand
• Entrance M – East Stand
• Entrance I – North Stand

Stewards are available at each entrance to provide assistance on arrival.

Toilets & Changing Facilities

• 51 accessible toilets located throughout the stadium
• Toilets are positioned adjacent to all accessible seating areas
• Facilities are available on every public level

Food, Drink & Concourse Access

• All concourses feature lowered bar and food counters for wheelchair users
• Wide concourses allow easy movement around the stadium

Support for Visually Impaired Spectators

• Tactile flooring installed at the top and bottom of stairways
• Public address announcements include clear safety and emergency messaging
• Guide dogs and assistance dogs are permitted, subject to prior arrangement with the event organiser

Additional Assistance

• Stadium stewards are trained to assist spectators with access needs

Hospitality at Aviva Stadium

Hospitality is concentrated mainly in the West Stand and central touchline areas, with premium seats typically located in middle tiers or prime upper-tier positions.

Hospitality packages combine strong views with dining, drinks and lounge access, and are available across major rugby fixtures and selected concerts. Let’s see what is on offer during the Six Nations:

Aviva Stadium Seating Plan | Frequently Asked Questions

How is Aviva Stadium’s seating arranged?

The Aviva Stadium seating plan is a four-stand bowl: East and West run along the touchlines, while North and South sit behind the posts.

In practice, many people describe it as “three big sides and one smaller end” because the North Stand is noticeably lower than the others.

The stadium is tiered, with lower seating, premium/hospitality levels and upper seating (most pronounced on the long sides).

Hospitality and premium areas are concentrated around the touchines, especially in and around the West Stand. For first-timers, the simple rule is: East/West = best all-round view, North/South = best end-on drama.

For getting to your seat, the Aviva Stadium ticket info is usually all you need: turnstile letter, block, row letter and seat number.

Why is one stand in the Aviva Stadium so small (and why do people say it only has “three sides”)?

That’s the North Stand. It’s deliberately lower because the stadium sits right next to a residential area, and the design had to reduce impact on nearby homes (things like overall scale, sightlines, and light/shadow).

So the Aviva isn’t missing a side, because it’s just that one end is intentionally built down, which makes it look asymmetrical on TV and in photos.

From a spectator point of view, that mainly affects:

• Atmosphere: sound doesn’t “trap” quite as consistently at that end
• Away fan logistics: it’s easier to allocate and steward a compact end stand

Where do away fans sit in the Aviva?

For Republic of Ireland football, away fans are typically allocated to the North Stand. It’s the most common setup because the stand is compact and easier to segregate and manage.

For rugby, it’s usually less rigid. You’ll still see clusters of travelling support, but the Aviva tends to feel more mixed across the bowl — especially outside the biggest Six Nations fixtures.

Where are the big screens at the Aviva Stadium?

The Aviva has large video screens at the ends of the stadium, so you’re generally looking toward either the North or South end for replays and match information.

Practical takeaway: wherever you sit, you’ll normally have a clear line to at least one end screen, which is particularly helpful if you’re in an end-on block and play is at the far side.

Are all seats covered at the Aviva Stadium?

Yes, all spectator seating is under the roof, which is one reason the Aviva is a comfortable stadium in bad weather. The pitch itself isn’t covered, but the stands are.

A couple of small “real world” differences still show up:

• Seats right at the back under overhangs can feel more sheltered
• Wind can be more noticeable at the smaller end, depending on conditions

How are seats numbered at the Aviva?

Your ticket normally follows a simple sequence, which is turnstile letter, block, row and seat number.

Inside the stadium:

• Row letters are marked on the steps at the end of rows
• Seat numbers are printed clearly on the seat itself

If you’re meeting friends, it’s worth knowing that moving between tiers can be awkward once you’re inside. Many people meet before scanning in, or agree a meeting point on the same level.

Where are premium seats in the Aviva?

Premium seating at the Aviva is mainly on the long sides (East and West). It typically includes:

• Premium/padded seating sold as higher categories for rugby
• Restaurants and hospitality spaces (suites and dining areas)
• Boxes and sky boxes used for corporate and football membership packages

In plain terms: if your ticket mentions hospitality, lounge access, a restaurant, or a box/sky box, you’re likely in the premium layers between the lower and upper general seating.

Which seats are best in the Aviva Stadium for rugby?

Ticket-compare.com recommends: Touchline seats with a bit of height.

Best picks for rugby:

• East or West Stand, around halfway, a little elevated (often mid lower-tier or the front of the upper): Easiest place to read the full match, including spacing, kicking battles, defensive line speed
• If you love intensity over tactics: South Stand behind the posts delivers the most “in the moment” feel

Seats that can be less ideal (depending on what you want):

• Very low end-on seats if your priority is tracking wide play at the far touchline
• Back rows tucked under overhangs if you want a more open, airy stadium feel

Written by Aviran Zazon

Co-founder of Ticket-Compare.com, Aviran Zazon is a web developer, marketer and lifelong sports fan, inspired by the magic of Ronaldinho’s Barcelona.