European Finals 2023 confirmed as Dublin

I'd have thought that the finals would need a bigger stadium than Lansdowne Rd at this stage?


https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-cup/aviva-stadium-to-host-2023-champions-cup-and-epcr-challenge-cup-finals-1.4882838

thebandwagonsociety wrote:I'd have thought that the finals would need a bigger stadium than Lansdowne Rd at this stage?


https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-cup/aviva-stadium-to-host-2023-champions-cup-and-epcr-challenge-cup-finals-1.4882838

thought the story was that the final was switched from Tottenham Stadium because of potential clashes due to earlier finish to next season with the Soccer World Cup. So other large soccer stadia would have equally problematic. Lansdowne Road was the next best alternative that EPCR chose I suppose. What have the previous attendances been like?

Was there an issue or reason why the Euro final couldn't be moved to Twickenham? After all, it's maybe 10 miles away from Tottenham...

doctor_grey wrote:Was there an issue or reason why the Euro final couldn't be moved to Twickenham?  After all, it's maybe 10 miles away from Tottenham...    

Too big possibly. Last time, it got filled to capacity was in 2012 between Leinster and Ulster.
Recent attendances have dropped to mid 50k. Bilbao was nearly full with 52k attending. St James was also 52k. Lansdowne is 51k.

It’s disappointing that ove 20 years into this competition that only 50,000 rugby fans show up for a final. I think they should go for a bigger stadium and lower the prices to get more people in. The final should be a huge event.

How do they choose venues? Seems very biased towards England and France to date.

It also really should have been held in Italy by now.

Pot Hale wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Was there an issue or reason why the Euro final couldn't be moved to Twickenham?  After all, it's maybe 10 miles away from Tottenham...    

Too big possibly.   Last time, it got filled to capacity was in 2012 between Leinster and Ulster.
Recent attendances have dropped to mid 50k.  Bilbao was nearly full with 52k attending.  St James was also 52k.  Lansdowne is 51k.  

The 2012 game v Ulster had an 80k plus attendance. Id say only an Irish derby final would eclipse that.

50k in Lansdowne is perfectly fine for a final though IMO. Great venue.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Was there an issue or reason why the Euro final couldn't be moved to Twickenham?  After all, it's maybe 10 miles away from Tottenham...    

Too big possibly.   Last time, it got filled to capacity was in 2012 between Leinster and Ulster.
Recent attendances have dropped to mid 50k.  Bilbao was nearly full with 52k attending.  St James was also 52k.  Lansdowne is 51k.  

The 2012 game v Ulster had an 80k plus attendance. Id say only an Irish derby final would eclipse that.

50k in Lansdowne is perfectly fine for a final though IMO. Great venue.

Agreed, considering the Aviva has secured the 2024 europa league final, which is obviously a far, far bigger event, it's a more than suitable venue.

Steven Jones and Stuart Barney’s were complaining about this on the Ruck podcast. Marseille was seemingly amazing and far superior to “boring old Dublin” for a final venue.

Given the amount of football and rugby stadia in Europe it does seem a bit short sighted not to move it to new locations each year. And it’s fun for fans to visit new locations.